Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 361 – Matthew 12:18-21 – The Hope Of The World – Growing As Disciples
Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious. And his name will be the hope of all the world.” Matthew 12:18-21 (NLT)
Look
“Look,” that sounds like such a casual word. It sounds not too dissimilar from a glance. I know without a doubt that this is not the intent or meaning of this word in this context. What do you think it means? I think it means to look intently. I think it means to look with intensity. I think it means to look with all that is within me. I think it means to look in such a way that my heart and mind and life will be transformed. Looking at you, cannot leave me unchanged. You couldn’t be more correct.
How has looking intently at me changed you? How have you been transformed by looking at me with all that is within you? I have come to know and love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. It has become my passionate desire to do what is good and right and pleasing to you. It is my joy to follow and serve you. Say more. Looking intently at you has filled my life with hope and peace and joy. I have been able to place my full and complete trust in you as I have remained in your presence, keeping my focus on you. That is very good.
Say more. Even in the midst of a significant crisis, which we are all now in, I have been able to live in the fullness of hope that you have given to me. Is this a hope that you wish to hold on to and keep to yourself? No, not at all. Now, more than ever it is my desire and plan to proclaim to all, the hope that is available in you. You are not only my hope. You are the hope of all the world. So, it is my prayer that you will powerfully use me and all your followers to boldly proclaim you to the world. There is hope in no one or nothing else. Your kindness and mercy and love is available to all. All who hear your call have an open invitation to come to you. So, powerfully use me to proclaim the hope and salvation available to all through you. That is a prayer that I will certainly hear and answer. Proclaim me to the world. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.
Lord, thank for being my hope. I will place all my faith, hope and trust in you. Thank you for also being the hope of the whole world. Help me to be a bold witness for you in the world. Guide my prayers today, as I pray through these times of significant crisis. Amen
For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:
Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.
Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.
By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved Copying not permitted www.GrowingAsDisciples.com
