Monthly Archives: July 2021

See That They Get Justice

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The Virtuous Life - Day 255 - Luke 18:1-8 - See That They Get Justice - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 255 – Luke 18:1-8 – See That They Get Justice – Growing As Disciples

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.  He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men.  And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’  “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!'”  And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.  And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?  I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:1-8 (NIV)

Persistent In Prayers 

That I will be. What will you be? I will be persistent in my prayers. I will keep on praying. I will not grow weary. I will not become tired. I will not quit and give up bringing my prayers to you. Why will you be persistent in your prayers? That is what you have asked of me. If you ask me to do something, I’m not going to spend a lot of time analyzing it or debating you. If you ask me to do something, that is all I need to know. I will do whatever you ask of me even when I don’t completely understand all the “what’s” and “why’s” of your request of me. That sounds like taking steps of faith with me, doesn’t it? Yes, it does. If I had every answer and new all the details of what you asked of me, what faith would be required of me? I know without a doubt that you want me to place all my faith in you. Yes, I do. Being persistent in my prayers is one way, a very important way, of my placing my faith in you. Being persistent in my prayers also answers the question, “Do I really believe that you will hear and answer my prayer?” If I have faith, I will keep on praying. If I do not have faith, I will quit and give up. I will stop praying to you. That I will never do. That will be very good.

I have a new topic for your prayers. It is a topic that has not often been the topic of your prayers. It is a new arena of prayer that I would like you to enter. That sounds interesting. That sounds exciting. I am glad that you think so. You have my full attention. There is pain and suffering in the world around you. There is brokenness in the lives of people all around you. There is injustice everywhere you turn in the world around you. I want you to pray for justice in the world around you. I want you to pray for those who are experiencing injustice.  I want you to intercede for those who are bruised and battered and broken. Will you do that? Will you pray these prayers? Yes, Heavenly Father, I will pray for the specific needs of those who are suffering injustice all around me. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, I know you will hear and answer my prayers. I will be persistent in prayers. I will never give up and quit praying. I will keep on bringing my and others needs before you. Hear my prayers. Accomplish your all purposes and plans on the earth. Amen

Key Question…  What specific prayers have you been persistently praying for quite some time?

Living It Out…  Be persistent in your prayers and never give up praying to your Heavenly Father.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that your Heavenly Father will hear and answer your prayers as you keep on praying to Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group the prayers you are persistently praying to your Heavenly Father.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you be persistent in your prayers and never give up praying to your Heavenly Father.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

The Compassionate Life – Day 255 – Luke 18-1-8 – See That They Get Justice – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                                        Copying not permitted                                                                                    www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Prepare Your Minds For Action Be Self-Controlled

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The Virtuous Life - Day 193 - 1 Peter 1:13-16 - Prepare Your Minds For Action Be Self-Controlled - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 193 – 1 Peter 1:13-16 – Prepare Your Minds For Action Be Self-Controlled – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.  As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.  But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-16 (NIV)

Mindset

What is your mindset? I’m not sure what you mean by that question. What is your mind set on? What are you allowing yourself to think? That is a very important question, I would guess. You would be guessing correctly. Your mindset will direct the course of your life. All your thoughts and words and actions will flow out of your mindset. All your opinions and values will be come from your mindset. If your mind is set on worldly things, you will then think and speak and act in worldly ways. All the conduct and character of your life will be guided by your mindset. Now, do you understand the importance of your mind set? Yes, I do. You have made that quite clear to me. That’s good.

I know that you want to become like me. I know that you want to think and speak and act in ways that are pleasing to me.I know that you want to be holy just as I am holy. Am I correct? Are these the true desires of your heart and mind and life? Yes, you know the desires of my heart. I am also confident that you have placed these desires in me. They have come to me as a great and gracious gift, from you to me. I also know that you have and are continuing to fan the flame of these desires in me. Yes, I am. It is wise that you recognize what I have, am, and will continue to do in you. The only wisdom that I have comes from you. That is also true.

Will you continue to set your heart and mind and life on me? Will you keep on turning away from worldly thoughts from this world? Will you continue to allow me to prepare your mind for action so that you will be able to think and speak and act like me? Will you allow me to make you into a bold and bright witness for me in the darkness of this world? Yes Lord, I will. I will draw near to you. I will submit my heart and mind and life to you. The focus of my attention will be on you. I will listen attentively to you. I will live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. I will go where you guide me. I will do what you ask of me. That will be very good. Then the desires of your heart, and mind and life will be fulfilled. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will prepare my mind for action. I will set my heart and mind and life on all the hope that I have in you. Help me to be self-controlled. Help me to think and speak and act like you. Help me to be holy in all I think, say, and do. Make me to be like you. Amen 

Key Question…  How is setting your mind on Christ helping you to be holy in all you think, say, and do?

Living It Out…  Set your heart and mind and life on Christ so you can become like Him in all your thoughts, words, and actions.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to be holy in all that you think and say and do.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are allowing the Lord to make you like Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you be holy in all you think and say and do.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

The Virtuous Life – Day 193 – 1 Peter 1-13-16 – Prepare Your Minds For Action Be Self-Controlled- 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide.pdf

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By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                                        Copying not permitted                                                                                    www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

The Rich Man And Lazarus

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Parable Of The Rich Man And Lazarus- Luke 16-19-31- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Parable Of The Rich Man And Lazarus- Luke 16-19-31- Growing As Disciples

“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'” Luke 16:27-31

 Inconvenienced

You have been walking right on by, haven’t you? Your eyes have looked the other way? Your feet have led another direction? Your hands have been closed? Isn’t this true? Don’t pretend you’re not sure what I’m talking about. I know what you’re talking about. What am I talking about? You want me to tell you what you are talking about? Yes, I do. Alright, you are talking about the poor and needy. Yes, I am. Go ahead, you may continue. I have been walking right on by those who are in desperate need. Yes, you have. My eyes have looked the other way. My feet have quickly led me in another direction. My hands have been closed to those who are in desperate need. Yes, I am glad you are agreeing with me. There is no point in denying your assessment. I would have precious little to hold up in my defense. You would have some examples to highlight how you have responded to my prompting you to help those in need, wouldn’t you? Yes, I would. But you know that what you have done is not enough. Why is that? It really isn’t a question of how much I’ve done is it? No, it’s not. The real question is am I truly at your disposal? Will I allow myself to be really inconvenienced when you prompt me to respond to someone in need? You have a funny way of putting things. How is that? I’m not an inconvenience to you, am I? No, not at all. I used the word inconvenienced because it helped me to understand the true condition of my heart. What are you coming up with? I like to live in luxury and pleasure. I don’t like to be distracted or made uncomfortable. No, you don’t. I don’t like what I’m seeing. What’s that? It’s a sin to live in such luxury when others all around are in desperate need. I know that I have heard your voice and felt your prompting to help someone in need. What have you done with that? Sometimes I have responded to what you have asked me to do for you. Yes, you have. But, far too often, I have failed to respond to you and walked right on by someone in need. So, what are you saying? Do you want to have a winning record? Are you trying to improve your frequency of favorably responding to me? No, I’m not. You’re not? No, I want you to completely change and transform my heart and mind so that without any thought the words that came out of my mouth are always yes. So, right now, I’m confessing my sins of disobedience to you. I’m asking for your forgiveness. I’m turning away from my self-centered, pleasure seeking life to a life of following and serving you. You’re forgiven. You know that? Yes Lord, I do. Then this is a glorious day, isn’t it? Why is that? You are forgiven and free to serve me now whenever and however I ask you. Yes Lord, I am. Isn’t that exciting? Yes Lord, it is.  

Lord, forgive me for walking right on by people who were in desperate need. Open my eyes and soften my heart to those who are in need. Show when, where, and how I can get up and move out of my comfort zone to help others who are in desperate need. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Parables – Luke 16-19-31 – The Rich Man And Lazarus – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                                        Copying not permitted                                                                                    www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Bring To Your Remembrance

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The Spirit Empowered Life - Day 129 - John 14:23-27 - Bring To Your Remembrance - Growing As Disciples

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 129 – John 14:23-27 – Bring To Your Remembrance – Growing As Disciples

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.  Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.  “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:23-27 (ESV)

Plenty Of Reminders

I need plenty of those. You need plenty of what? I need plenty of reminders of what I have been taught. I have often been forgetful. I have seldom fully learned a lesson with my first go around. I need constant repetition of what I have been taught, for it to sink into my heart and mind and life. I need to hear and see and sometimes even touch the lesson from multiple vantage points for me to completely grasp what you want me to remember. Oh, and I also need to look back over time, to review what I have gone through, to fully comprehend your hand at work in my life. Even then, without your help, I am incredibly dense at recognizing your activity in my life. Let’s be clear here, you are talking about what you have or haven’t learned as a follower of Christ and a child of God. Yes, that is exactly what I am taking about. Do you feel that you are uniquely dense or especially stupid? Ha, that sounds funny. No, I suppose not. All I know is that I desperately need your help. I need plenty of reminders from you about what I have been taught as I have attempted to love and follow and serve God with all my heart and soul and strength. I want to remember all I have been taught as a follower of Christ and a child of God. That is a very good desire within you. That desire comes from me. That desire is a gift that you have been given. You have a passion to live your life with and for God. Without that desire, you would not remember or care about not remembering what you have been taught. Once you become a follower of Christ and a child of God, I began to teach you and have continued to bring to remembrance what you have been taught. Have you listened perfectly? Have you learned perfectly? Have you put into practice perfectly what you have bee taught? I can answer those question. Go ahead. No, I have not listened or learned or perfectly but into practice what I have been taught. But you are still listening attentively. But you are still following passionately. But you are still desiring to live more fully live as a Christ follower, and child of God. Yes, I am. That is very good. I will continue teach you and bring to your remembrance what you have been taught. I will give you plenty of reminders. Thank you, Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit, I will take God’s word deep into my heart, mind, and life. I will allow you to use God’s word to teach, train, mold, make and guard and guide me. Be my counselor, comforter, and helper. I will listen attentively to what you bring to my remembrance. Amen

Key Question…  How are you making your heart, mind, and life fully attentive to the Holy Spirit speaking to you?

Living It Out…  Listen attentively to the voice of the Holy Spirit bringing to your remembrance what you have been taught.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Holy Spirit will use God’s word to teach, train, comfort, counsel, guard, guide and help you.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Holy Spirit reminds you of what you have been taught.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you listen attentively to the Holy Spirit so you can hear Him speaking to you.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 129 – John 14-23-27 – Bring To Your Remembrance – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Take Up The Whole Armor Of God

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Therefore - Ephesians 6:10-13 - Take Up The Whole Armor Of God - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Therefore – Ephesians 6:10-13 – Take Up The Whole Armor Of God – Growing As Disciples

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  Ephesians 6:10-13 (ESV)

Stand And Fight

This world is a broken place. You know that. Yes, I do. This world is filled with sin and evil of every kind. You also know that. Yes, I do. You already know that you must stand and fight against evil that comes against you personally. Yes, I know that as well. What you do not know well yet is that I have called you to take a stand and fight against evil in the world. Now you have my full attention. Now, you are telling me something new. I’m not now telling you something new. You are now hearing me speak to you in ways that you have never heard me speaking to you before. I was speaking. You were not hearing and listening well to what I had to say to you.  In the past you have thought that your battles against evil were primarily personal and individual. You will still face those kinds of battles in life. Make no mistake about that. You will still need to be prayerful and watchful regarding your personal and individual battles with evil in the world as you follow and serve me. I will. That will be very good. 

Have you not noticed what makes you angry? Angry? How does my anger have anything to do with your calling me to fight evil in the world? Do I really have to answer that question for you? I think maybe I could answer that question. But, I really want to hear you answering it for me. It would help me. I would be greatly encouraged by hearing your answer. All right then, I will answer this question for you. You get angry when you see injustice in the world. You get angry when you see people being treated unfairly. You get angry when anyone is being abused and mistreated. That is your hot button. That is what gets you motivated. This is what drives you nuts. Look where I have led you. Look at how I have used you. You have wanted to right wrongs. You have wanted to come to the aid of those who have been unjustly and unfairly treated. You have wanted to help those who have been bruised and battered by life. Does any of this surprise you? No, not really, not at all. This is how I have created you. This is how I want to use you. This is how I will be using you in the future. Get ready to take a stand and fight. I will be with you to help you. Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, I know I will never be able to stand against the devil and his evil with my own strength. Thank you for your armor that will protect me from him. I will take on all the strength you give me. I will put on your armor so I can fight against evil in this world. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Therefore – Ephesians 6-10-13 – Take Up The Whole Armor Of God – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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By Jon Ulrich © All rights

Ask And It Will Be Given

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 66 - Luke 11:9-13 - Ask And It Will Be Given - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 66 – Luke 11:9-13 – Ask And It Will Be Given – Growing As Disciples

“So, I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.  “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?  Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:9-13 (NIV)

Ask Me

Will you do that? Will I do what? Will you make your wants and needs known to me? Will you make the wants and needs of others known to me? Will you pray bold and persistent prayers to me? Will you ask until an answer is given to you? Will you seek until you find and answer from me? Will you knock until I open doors for you? Before you answer my questions, I know what you are wondering. What am I wondering? You are wondering why you need to ask. You know that your asking or seeking or knocking doesn’t tell me anything new. You know that I know what you want and need better than you do. You know that I know what you will pray even before you pray it. Those thoughts have crossed my mind. But you do know why I want you to come and ask me for what you need. That is no longer some big mystery to you. You no longer think it is odd that I want you to come and ask me for what you need. So, tell me why I want you to come and ask me for what you want and need. You want me to live in an intimate relationship with you. You want me to come to rely on you. You want to live and walk through life with you. This is your highest priority for me. Nothing about your will for me is more important than us living together in close and intimate relationship. That is true. What do you think about my desire for you? I am astounded. I am knocked over. I am bowed down. It is beyond my imagination and comprehension what your desire for me means for now and forever. I am speechless. I am thankful and grateful beyond what my words can possible express. I will simply say that I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I will follow and serve you with all that is within me. That is very good. Yes, it is, I can think of nothing I would rather do.

Heavenly Father, I know I have not always made my wants and needs known to you. Seldom have I prayed bold and persistent prayers. Forgive me. Now, I will make both my wants and needs and the want and needs of others known to you in my prayers. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 66 – Luke 11-9-13 – Ask And It Will Be Given – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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

Be Careful To Obey

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The Word Centered Life - Day 3 - Deuteronomy 6:1-3 - Be Careful To Obey - Growing As Disciples

The Word Centered Life – Day 3 – Deuteronomy 6:1-3 – Be Careful To Obey – Growing As Disciples

These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.  Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you. Deuteronomy 6:1-3 (NIV)

Hear And Obey

Do you want to enjoy a long life? Do you want things to go well for you? Do you want my blessing on your life? Would you also like all these things to be true for your children and their children? Yes, I want all these things to be true not only for me but also for my children and their children. That’s good. What must I do for all this to be true for me and my children and their children? It is good and wise for you to know that much will be required of you for all these things to be true for you, your children, and their children. You have my full attention. My heart and mind are focused on you. I am listening attentively to you. That’s good. That means you are already fulfilling one of the conditions of my promise to you. What’s that? You are listening attentively to me. You are hearing my word. This you must continue to do. Everyday, my word must be before you. What then? Good question, it is not enough to only hear my word. You must obey my word. You must put my word into practice. With hearing and obeying my word you will have fulfilled two conditions of my promise. There is more? What else? You must allow my word to develop in you a healthy awe, a reverence, a respect, you can even call it a healthy fear of me. With hearing, obeying, and fearing me, you will be well on your way to living a life that I can and will bless. But there is more, isn’t there? Yes, there is more. You must teach your children to also hear and obey and fear me. You must teach your children to also teach their children to hear and obey and fear me. Do you know why teaching your children and them teaching their children is vitally important? I’m not sure. I could take a guess. Go ahead. As I teach my children to hear, obey, and fear you, two things are happening. I am reinforcing those priorities in my own heart and mind and life and I am also passing them on to my children. I will be creating a legacy of hearing and obeying and fearing you. I will be giving my children an example to follow. They in turn will be reinforcing hearing and obeying and fearing you in their own hearts and minds and lives as well as they pass it on to their own children. Yes, in doing so, your life, your children’s lives and their children’s lives will all be blessed by me. That is what I want. That is what we will all do. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will hear and obey your word. I will listen attentively to you. I will put your word into daily practice. I will go and do whatever you ask of me. Help me to know and do your will. Bless my life as I follow and serve and obey you with all that is within me. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

The Word Centered Life – Day 3 – Deuteronomy 6-1-3 – Be Careful To Obey – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

We Do Know That Will Be Like Him

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The Sacramental Life - Day 320 - John 3:1-3 - We Know That We Will Be Like Him - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 320 – John 3:1-3 – We Know That We Will Be Like Him – Growing As Disciples

 

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.  Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.  And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:1-3 (NLT)

Like Me

Do you want to become like me? Do you want to speak like I spoke? Do you want to think like I thought? Do you want to act like I acted? Do you want to go where I went? Do you want to do what I did? Do you want to live like I lived? I am positive about two things. Such as? I do want to become like you. That is the highest and most passionate desire I have within me. I want nothing more than to become like you. In fact, it is the prayer of my heart that you will fan that flame of desire within me. Make it my earnest expectation that I will become like you in all that I think, and say, and do. Purify that desire within me. Burn out anything in my life that is not like you. That is quite a prayer. That is a good desire.  You said that there were two things of which, you are positive. Yes, I did. You have only mentioned one. I am positive that I have no idea what the implications are of my desire, and prayer, and eager expectation, of becoming like you. What do you have in mind? I have no idea where you will lead me. I have no idea of what you will ask of me. I have no idea of how you will change my heart, transform my mind, and guide my life so that day by day, I will become more like you. You know far more than you recognize at the moment. What do you have in mind? You know the goal. What is the goal? You tell me. My goal, and your goal, are for me to become more like you every day, as I love and follow and serve you. You know who to follow.  Yes, I will follow you to where you lead me and do what you ask of me. I will follow your example. I will think and speak and act like you. I will love like you love. I will give like you gave. I will serve like you served. You know the result of your living your life with and for me. Yes, one day I will fully become like you when I see you as you are. Yes, you will. Does this hope, does this eager expectation, spur you on? Do you have any doubts about my ability to help you to become more like me every day, as you follow me? Do you have any doubts about your becoming fully like me as you see me as I am? No, I do not. Then live with this hope and eager expectation in you. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, it is my desire to become like you. I want to think, speak, and act like you. Change my heart, transform my mind, and guide my life. Help me to live as you lived and do what you did. Help me to fully live as a child of God. Fan the flame of this desire in me. Amen

Key Question…  How is your eager expectation that you will become like Christ transforming everything about you?

Living It Out…  Eagerly expect that Christ will make you more like Him now and fully like Him in the future when you see Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will become more like Christ now and fully like Him in the future when you see Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are becoming more like Christ as you love and follow Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you become like Christ as you continue to love, follow, and serve Him.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

The Sacramental Life – Day 320 – 1 John 3-1-3 – We Do Know That Will Be Like Him – 4 Page discipleship study guide

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By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                                        Copying not permitted                                                                                    www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Do The Same

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The Virtuous Life - Day 254 - Luke 10:30-37 - Do The Same - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 254 – Luke 10:30-37 – Do The Same – Growing As Disciples

Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.  “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by.  A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.  “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.  Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.  The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’  “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.  The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” Luke 10:30-37 (NLT)

Who Is My Neighbor?

That is what I will do. What will you do? I will love like you loved. I will give like you gave. I will serve like you served. How will you love and give and serve others? What will you do differently? I will have my heart and eyes and hands open and ready to help my neighbor. Who is your neighbor? My neighbor is anyone in need.  My neighbor is anyone I can help. Yes, that is true. You are correct. You have answered well. What might it cost you to love your neighbor? I’m not sure how to limit that answer to only loving my neighbor. What are you thinking? I am thinking that my love for my neighbor is part of my loving you. I cannot separate loving you from loving my neighbor. Loving you causes me to love my neighbor. Loving you causes me to go and do what you have asked me. What have I asked you? You want me to love my neighbor. Loving you and my neighbor is how I can be a bold and bright witness for you in the world. Loving you and my neighbor is how I can bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Loving you and loving my neighbor is how I can store up treasure in heaven with you. Yes, this is all true. Then when you ask me what it might cost to love my neighbor, I can only answer by saying loving you and my neighbor will cost me everything I have, everything I am, and everything I hope to be. Is that cost too high? Is that price too much? No, it is not. With your help, I will pay that price. My life is in your hands. I am at your disposal. That is very good.

Lord, I will not ignore and walk right on by those in need. I will have my heart and eyes and hands open to those who are in need. I will love my neighbor by helping them when they are in need. I will love like you loved even when it costs me a great deal. Amen

Key Question…  How has the Lord given you opportunities to love a neighbor by helping them with a need?

Living It Out…  Demonstrate your love for your neighbors by helping them with their needs.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to love your neighbors by helping them with their needs.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are loving your neighbors by helping them with their needs.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you love your neighbor by helping them when they are in need.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

The Compassionate Life – Day 254 – Luke 10-30-37 – Do The Same – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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