Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life – Philippians 1:20-21 – To Live Is Christ – Growing As Disciples
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:20-21 (NIV)
Work To Do
What eager hope and expectation do you have for your life? It is my eager hope and expectation that I will serve you well. I want to do the work that you have given me to do for you. I want to bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom and your glory. I don’t ever want to look back from heaven with regret to wasted opportunities that I had to serve you while I was living on the earth. I want to be able to hear you say to me, “ well done good and faithful servant”. I want to live a life that is pleasing in your sight. These are very good desires that you have in your heart. I believe that they come from you. Yes, these desires do come from me.
What do you think will make you able to bear an abundance of fruit for me? I know that only you can make me able to bear fruit for your kingdom and your glory. Apart from you I can do nothing. You have given me gifts, talents, and abilities that you will no doubt use. But, it would be a terrible mistake for me to rely on anything or anyone other than you. So, you won’t be relying on yourself to bear fruit for my kingdom and glory? No, I won’t, I’ve tried that before and that approach does not work. You want me to join you in the work that you have given me to do for you. You will give me your help to do everything that you ask me to do for you. Yes, I will.
Why will you need my help to do what I ask you to do for me? You have this habit of giving me tasks that are far larger than I can handle by myself. Yes, I do and do you know why that is? There is one thing you want me to do and there is one thing you want me to know. What’s that? You want me to rely on you. Yes, I do. You want me to know that you are the one that is helping me to bear fruit for you. Yes, I do.
How much time do you think that you have to serve me in this life of yours? Life is short. It is like a snap of the fingers or a blink of the eye. Life is racing by faster than I could ever imagine. So, your days are short and they are numbered, aren’t they? Yes, they are. What does the shortness of your life and limited number of days suggest to you? I need your wisdom to know how to use my time. I need to be focused on the work that you have given me to do for you. I need to live in close communion with you so that I can hear your voice and be guided by you in the work that you have given me to do for you. Yes, you are right.
Why do you want to serve me? I want to serve you because I love you. There is no other reason? No, there is not. It is my joy to serve you because I love you. It is my desire to bear fruit for your kingdom and glory because I love you. I want to make the best use of the time you have given to me because I love you. When my time is up and I come to live forever in heaven with you it will be the happiest day of my life because I love you. I look forward to that day with great eagerness and expectation. So do I.
Lord, I would like to keep on following and serving you in this life. I believe that you have given me important work to do for you. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and glory. Then I will be ready to come to live forever in heaven with you. Amen
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Life – Philippians 1-20-21 – To Live Is Christ – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide
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