Monthly Archives: August 2021

He Will Be Called

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The Sacramental Life - Day 326 - Isaiah 9:6-7 - He Will Be Called - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 326 – Isaiah 9:6-7 – He Will Be Called – Growing As Disciples

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)

As Described

There is no doubt about that. There is no doubt about what? You are as described. You are as you are called. You are as you are named. How am I described and called and named? You are the Son that has been given. You came into this world to be the Savior of the world. You came into this world to be the Lord of all who would receive as their Savior. Most importantly, at least in my opinion you came into this world to be my Savior and Lord. You lived and died for me. Your death of the cross paid for my sin. Your blood cleansed my unrighteous. You made it so I could be righteous in your sin. You set me apart, so I could love and follow and serve you as my Savior and Lord. On top of that, as a guarantee of my inheritance in heaven with you, you filled me with your Holy Spirit. So now, I am receiving your wonderful counsel. You are guiding me through life. You are leading me to where you want me to go and giving me what you want me to do for you. In that I delight. It is my joy and pleasure to follow and serve you. That is very good. I am not finished answering your question. Keep on going. You are Mighty God and Everlasting Father. That is an awesome combination. How so? As Mighty God, you are all powerful, all knowing and ever present. Nothing escapes your notice. Nothing takes you by surprise. Nothing is out of your control. As Everlasting Father, you love and care for me. You hear and answer my prayers. You are my refuge in life. You are my shelter in every storm. You lead me through every twist and turn and up and down in life. As Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace, I can take comfort in you. You are the gracious and generous giver of wisdom. You fill me with your peace, that is incomprehensibly beyond explanation, even as I go through trials and adversity in life. You are guarding and guiding me as I walk through life with you as I eagerly await the day that I will come to live forever in your Heavenly Kingdom. That will be a great and glorious day! Yes, it will. Thank you, Lord, for being as described. 

Lord, thank you for coming into this world to be my Savior. You are my Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. I know I can rely on your help throughout my life. I look forward to coming to live forever in heaven with you. Amen

Key Question…  How have you welcomed, the Son who was given, into your life as your Savior and Lord?

Living It Out…  Give thanks to the Lord for who He is and all that He has done and will do for you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are relying on the Lord’s mighty power to help you in life.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you rely on who the Lord is, has done, and will do for you.

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

The Sacramental Life – Day 326 – Isaiah 9-6-7 – He Will Be Called – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Love Never Gives Up

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The Compassionate Life - Day 260 - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7- Love Never Gives Up - Growing As Disciples

The Compassionate Life – Day 260 – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7- Love Never Gives Up – Growing As Disciples

Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head, doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,  Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,  Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (MSG)

Never Give Up

I won’t do that. That will not be true of me. What won’t you do? What will not be true of you? I will never give up on loving others with your love. I won’t quit. I will keep on loving others just as you have loved me. You have set before me powerful examples of how to love others deeply from my heart. What will my love look like as it flows in and through you to others? Your love flowing through me will be persistent and consistent and unwavering. Your love flowing through me will be humble and sacrificial. As I love others with your love, life will not revolve around me. I will not have a prideful, self-serving, attitude that continually seeks what I want and desire. Your love will help me to see and bring out the best in other people. As I love others with your love, I will not keep score, fly off the handle, get angry or even when I have been hurt or harmed by others. I will continually remember that you even loved your enemies. Your love will help me to put up with any and every difficultly that comes my way. I will always trust you. I will continually rely on your help.  I will keep on moving forward with you, never looking back, so that I will never give up on loving others. That will be very good. You will live a life that pleases me. As you never give up on loving others, I will powerfully use you. My hand will be on you. My favor will be with you. I will powerfully use your life. You will shine brightly for me in the darkness of this world. Others will come to know and love and follow and serve me because they will have seen my love flowing through you. You will live a live that bears fruit for my kingdom and brings glory to my name. That is my hope. That is my dream. That is the desire that you have placed within me. And I will fulfill these desires that you have in your heart. Thank you, Lord.  

Lord, help me to never give up loving others with your love. Keep me from having a “me first” attitude. Use me to see and bring out the best in others. Help me to never keep score or fly off the handle when others hurt me.  Love others in and through my life. Amen

Key Question…  How are you relying on the Lord to help you to never give up on loving others with His love?

Living It Out…  Allow the Lord to use you to love others with His love.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to love others with His love.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used to love others with His love.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you never give up loving others.

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

The Compassionate Life – Day 260 – 1 Corinthians 13-4-7 – Love Never Gives Up – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

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

What You Learned About Christ

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The Virtuous Life - Day 198 - Ephesians 4-20-24 - What You Learned About Christ - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 198 – Ephesians 4-20-24 – What You Learned About Christ – Growing As Disciples

But that isn’t what you learned about Christ.  Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.  Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.  Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.  Ephesians 4:20-24 (NLT)

Three Steps

Do you know that I have given you a new life to life in me? Do you know how to live the new life I have given you to live? Do you know the steps to take, so you will be able to live the new life I have given to you? Listen carefully to my question. There are steps to take. There is an order in which you must take these steps. But also, understand that you will never complete these steps. These steps will need to be reaffirmed daily. These steps must be implemented as you continue to love and follow and serve me. You are going to have to unpack all this for me. I need you to explain all of this in more detail, with greater clarity, so I can fully understand. Can you do that for me? I would be happy to explain all of this so you will be able to clearly understand. That will be great. Here we go. Listen attentively. I will.

Step one is putting off your old life. When you came to accept me as your Savior and Lord, that meant leaving your old life in the world. Doing so means you put off your old worldly and sinful thoughts, words, and actions. As part of that you must make a clean break with the world and all its evil. You must separate yourself from anything or anyone that would draw you draw you back into your old life of sin. Is that clear? That is quite clear. That’s good. 

Now step one will be impossible to complete without taking step two at the same time. In step two you will allow the power of my Holy Spirit, to use my word, to change your heart, renew your mind, and guide your life. The great news is that when you accepted me as your Savior and Lord, my Holy Spirit came to live and dwell inside of you. So, my Holy Spirit will be powerfully at work in you. You might call my Spirit’s work in you, “an inside job”. But you have a critical and vital role in the Holy Spirit’s role of powerfully working in you. What’s that? You must allow my word to dwell in you richly. How will I do that? You must meditate on my word day and night. You must meet with me daily in my word. The Holy Spirit will use my word like a sword to fight in you, with you, for you and through you. Is step two quite clear to you? Yes, it is quite clear. That’s good.

Now, step three flows out of step one and two. In step three, you will put on the new life you have in me. How will I do that? You will follow me to where I lead you. You will do what I ask of you. You will live in an intimate relationship with me. You will listen to my voice guiding you through life. You will live the life I have called you to live. Is this clear? Are all three steps clear? Quite clear. Will you take all three steps with me? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will put off all my old worldly thoughts, words, and actions. I will allow the Holy Spirit to use your word to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. Moment by moment and day by day, I will keep putting on the new life I have in you. Amen

Key Question…  How are you separating yourself from anything and anyone that would draw you back into your old life?

Living It Out…  Put off your old life, be renewed in your mind, and put on the new life you have in Christ.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to put off your old life, be renewed in your mind, and put on your new life in Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group what your new life in Christ looks like today.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you put off your old life, be renewed in your mind, and put on your new life in Christ.

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

Day 198 – The Virtuous Life – Ephesians 4-20-24 – What You Learned About Christ – 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

When They Had Prayed

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The Spirit Empowered Life - Day 134 - Acts 4:31 - When They Had Prayed - Growing As Disciples

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 134 – Acts 4:31 – When They Had Prayed – Growing As Disciples

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:31 (ESV)

Your Power

I know one thing for sure. What do you know for sure? I know that I cannot do the work of ministry under my own power, with my own strength. How do you know that to be true? Lots of failure, lots of barren and fruitless efforts. I have a great deal of experience failing to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name because I relied on my own efforts to try to accomplish your purposes. In many cases, the goal I had in mind was good. Trying to accomplish even a good goal with human efforts is doomed to fail. Why is that? You want me to rely on you. You want me to live in an intimate relationship with you. You want to work in and through me. You want me to know without a doubt that you have enabled me to go and do your will. I strongly suspect that these desires of yours are far more important than my success or failure in any given effort. That is correct.

Let me ask you a question. I’m listening. If you could do my will with your efforts, under your own power, who would get the credit? Who would people be drawn to if you were able to accomplish my purposes all by yourself? I see your point. The goal is for people to come to know and love and follow and serve you. The goal is not for me to be able to impress others with my great accomplishments. That is correct.

What do you want? I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. I want to rely fully on you. I want your hand to be on me. I want you to work in and through me. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want others to come to know and love and follow and serve you because of what they see of you in my life. Then we both want the same thing. Yes, we do. Keep on praying. Keep on relying on me. Keep on allowing me to work in and through you. Yes, I will. That will be very good.  

Holy Spirit, I know I am powerless to do the work of ministry, by relying on myself. Fill me with your power. Make me able to do the work of ministry. Accomplish through me what I could never do by myself. Holy Spirit, I will rely on you. Help me to bear fruit. Amen

Key Question…  When has the Holy Spirit filled you and made you able to powerfully do the work of ministry?

Living It Out…  Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you His power to do the work of ministry.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Holy Spirit will fill you and powerfully work through you to do the work of ministry.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Holy Spirit has powerfully worked through you.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you pray and be filled by the Holy Spirit to do the work of ministry.

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

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 134 – Acts 4-31 – When They Had Prayed – 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

Attentive To Their Prayer

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 71 - 1 Peter 3:8-12 - Attentive To Their Prayer - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 71 – 1 Peter 3:8-12 – Attentive To Their Prayer – Growing As Disciples

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.  For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.  He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.   (NIV)

Attentive To Your Prayer

Do you want me to be attentive to your prayer? Do you want to pray prayers that I will hear and answer? Yes, I want you to be attentive to my prayer. Yes, I want you to hear and answer my prayers. Is something required of me? Is there something that I must do if I want my prayers to be heard and answered? Not exactly as you are thinking. I have called you to live a righteous life. I expect that you will live that life. What does living a righteous life look like? I have called you to live in sympathetic, loving, compassionate and humble harmony with others. You will never repay evil with evil or insult with insult. You have been called to be a blessing. As you bless the lives of others, I will bless your life both now and forever. You will love life and see many good days as you keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceptive speech. As you love and follow and serve me you will always be turning away from evil to do good. In fact, with all your thoughts and words and actions, you will be seeking and pursing peace in all your relationships. As you live this kind of life my eyes will be on you. My favor will be with you. My hand will be on you. As you live this life, you will be living in an intimate relationship with me. Out of your life with me, will come prayers that will have my ear. You will prayer prayers that I will hear and answer.  As you live out your calling, as you live your life with and for me, I will be attentive to your prayer. Now, I understand. Now, I get it. I will live this life you are calling me to live. Then I will pray prayers that come out of our life together. That is very good.

Lord, in all my thoughts and words and actions, I will live the righteous life that you have called me to live. I will live in sympathetic, compassionate, and humbly harmony with others. Help me to love life and see many good days. Help me to richly bless others. Amen

Key Question…  What kind of life must you live if you want the Lord to hear and answer your prayers?

Living It Out…  In all your thoughts and words and actions, live out the righteous life the Lord has called you to live.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will hear and answer your prayers as you live the righteous life, He has called you to live.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has been hearing and answering your prayers.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you live the righteous life you have been called to live so the Lord can hear and answer your prayers.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 71 – 1 Peter 3-8-12 – Attentive To Their Prayer – 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

By Living According To Your Word

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The Word Centered Life - Day 8 - Psalm 119:9-16 - Living According To Your Word - Growing As Disciples

The Word Centered Life – Day 8 – Psalm 119:9-16 – Living According To Your Word – Growing As Disciples

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.  I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.  I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.  With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.  I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.  I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.  I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.                    Psalm 119:9-16 (NIV)

Your Word

Do you want to keep your way pure? Do you want to live a life that is pleasing to me? Yes, I want to keep my way pure. Yes, I want to live a life that is pleasing to you. What must I do to keep my way pure and live a life that is pleasing to you? That is a good question. I will let you answer that question. I thought you might say that. Then you were not surprised. No, I was not. Go ahead, I’m listening. I will start off my saying what will not work. I will tell you what I have tried and failed at miserably. Trying harder will not work. No amount of better effort on my part will keep my way pure. Relying on myself will not make me able to keep my way pure or live a life that is pleasing to you. How do you know this to be true? This has been my experience. These efforts have brought nothing but discouragement and defeat and even depression to me. As long has my focus has been on myself and my efforts, I have lived with one failure after another. That’s not good. No, it’s not.

What has changed for you? How are you now keeping your way pure and living a life that is pleasing to me? I have taken my eyes off myself. My focus is now on you. I am seeking you with all my heart. And this is not self-effort. You have been fanning this flame of desire in me. You have been helping me to seek you with all my heart. It pleases me that you recognize the work I have been doing in you. How have you been seeking me? Where have you been meeting with me? I have been meeting with you in your word. I have been meditating on your word. I have been hiding your word in my heart. Your word has been changing my heart, transforming my mind, and guarding and guiding my life. None of my thoughts or words or actions have been left untouched by your word. Your word has been allowing me to think your thoughts, speak your words, and take your actions. We have lived together in a back-and-forth dialogue about your word and what you have been teaching me. So, I have come to value your word as more valuable than any riches in this world. I have great joy in meeting with you in your word. I am greatly encouraged by how you have been and are continuing to help me to keep my way pure and live a life that is pleasing to you. That is very good. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I want to keep my way pure. I want to live a life that is pleasing to you. I will seek you with all my heart. I will hide your word in my heart. Daily, I will meditate on your word. Use your word to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. Amen

Key Question…  Why is it critically important that you hide God’s word deeply in your heart and mind?

Living It Out…  Make it your daily practice to hide God’s word in your heart.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God’s word will keep your way pure as you hide it in your heart.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are hiding God’s word in your heart.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May your way be kept pure as you live your life according to God’s word.

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

The Word Centered Life – Day 8 – Psalm 119-9-16 – By Living According To Your Word – 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

Who Is This Man?

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The Sacramental Life - Day 325 - Matthew 8:23-27 - Who Is This Man? - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 325 – Matthew 8:23-27 – Who Is This Man? – Growing As Disciples

Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples.  Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly all was calm.  The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!” Matthew 8:23-27 (NLT)

Storms Of Life

You will go through many storms in life. This should come as no surprise to you. In the storms of life, you will have one choice to make. Will you place your faith in me, or will you place your faith in yourself? That doesn’t sound like much of a choice, or rather should I say, that does seem like a difficult choice to make? Is that what you think? Do you think you have an easy choice before you? Well, not exactly. I may have an easy choice to make but the follow through or living it out or putting it into practice is much more difficult. How so? I could quickly and easily say that I will always place my faith in you through all the storms of life. I could continue by saying that I will never place my faith in myself as I go through storms in life. But would my thoughts and words and actions be consistent with my placing all my faith in you? What if I were afraid and filled with worry in the middle of all the storms of life? What if I were to tell myself that I wasn’t going to make it, that I was going to drown? What if I took every possible action, by myself, to get around or remove myself from every storm that came my way? Wouldn’t those thoughts and words and actions tell me where my faith was placed? If these were my thoughts and words and actions in the storms of life it would be obvious that I had placed my faith in myself. You have made a very good point.

How do you want to respond to the storms of life? I want to come to you. I want to place my faith in you. I want you to be my shelter. I want you to be my refuge in every storm. I want to have complete hope and faith and trust in you. I want to meet with you in prayer when trouble swirls around me. I want to be filled with your peace even when storms rage all around me. I want to know without a doubt that you are with me to help me. You will bring me through every storm. So, that is what I will do. I will place all my faith in you. I will hold on to you as you hold on to me in all the storms of life. That will be very good. 

Lord, I have gone through many storms in life. At times I have thought I might drown. I don’t ever want to go through another storm without you. I will place all my faith in you. I will not be afraid because I know that you will always be with me to help me. Amen

Key Question…  How has your faith in the Lord grown stronger as you gone through storms with Him?

Living It Out…  Place all your faith in the Lord as you go through storms in life.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will be with you to help you when you go through storms in life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped you go through storms in life.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you place your faith in the Lord as you go through all the storms of life.

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

The Sacramental Life – Day 325 – Matthew 8-23-27 – Who Is This Man? – 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

Live Sacrificially

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The Compassionate Life - Day 259 - 1 John 3:16-18 - Live Sacrificially - Growing As Disciples

The Compassionate – Day 259 – 1 John 3:16-18 – Live Sacrificially – Growing As Disciples

This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves.  If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.  My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. 1 John 3:16-18 (MSG)

Visible Or Invisible?

That is quite a choice. That will make quite a difference. What is quite a choice? What will make quite a difference? Will I choose to make your love visible or invisible in the world? My choice will make quite a difference to those in need all around me. Let me state what I understand. I’m listening. You love me. Yes, I do love you. You demonstrated your love for me by giving yourself sacrificially for me. There was nothing theoretical about your love for me. You came into this world, humbled yourself as a man, lived and died on the cross for me, as payment for my sins. Your love for me was costly. Your love for me was sacrificial. It cost your life to demonstrate your love for me and for all others who would come to know and love and follow and serve you. Yes, demonstrating my love for you was costly. Giving myself for you was the only way that you could be forgiven of your sins and cleansed of your unrighteousness. Giving myself for you was the only way that you could come to know and love and follow and serve me. My sacrificial giving to you made it possible for you to live in an intimate relationship with me. I made you to be a member of family. For that, I am thankful. Of that, I am certain. That is very good.  Now, there is something else I know without a doubt. What is that? You want me to become like you in my thoughts, and words, and actions. You want me to love like you loved. You want me to serve like you served. You want me to give like you gave. Yes, I do. You want my thoughts and words and actions to make your love visible in the world. Yes, I do. That is the choice I will make. I will sacrificially give of myself to others who are in need all round me. I will follow your example. I will do what you did. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will not have a blind eye to those in need all around me. I will allow you to use me to demonstrate your love to others in need. I will think and speak and act like you. I will sacrificially give to others in need so your love can be made visible in the world. Amen

Key Question…  How will your choices make Christ’s love visible or invisible in the world?

Living It Out…  Allow the Lord to use you to demonstrate His sacrificial love to others in the world.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will use you to demonstrate His sacrificial love to others in the world.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are demonstrating Christ’s sacrificial love to others.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you practice real love by living sacrificially for others.

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

The Compassionate Life – Day 259 – 1 John 3-16-18 – Live Sacrificially – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

The Truth Will Set You Free

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The Virtuous Life - Day 197 - John 8:31-32 - The Truth Will Set You Free - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 197 – John 8:31-32 – The Truth Will Set You Free – Growing As Disciples

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 (NIV)

Hold To My Teaching

How will you do that? How will I do what? How will you hold to my teaching? Wait, before answering. I would like to ask you a few more questions. Go ahead, I’m listening. Why do you want to hold to my teaching? Why do you believe in me? Are you really one of my disciples? Now, you may start answering my questions. I do want to hold to your teaching. I want to hear and know and follow and obey your word. I want to put your word into practice. Why, you may ask. I might. I want to hold to your teaching because I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. It is no burden for me to follow and obey your word. Loving you means that I want to live a life that is pleasing to you. I want to be and am fully devoted to you. Without hesitation, without reservation, I want to give all that I am and hope to be to you. That is very good. I can take no credit for coming to believe in you. I can take no credit for coming to know you. I can take no credit for the love I have in my heart for you. It is you who first loved me. It was you who drew me to yourself. It is you who saved me. You helped me to come to receive you as my Savior and Lord. You have forgiven me of my sins. You have cleansed me of my unrighteousness. You are now using your word to guard and guide the course of my life. Yes, I am. You have also made me to be one of your disciples. That is true.

Let’s get a little more specific about how you will hold on to my teaching. How will you take my word into your heart and mind and life? How will you allow my word to change your heart, transform your mind, and guide your life? How will you allow my word to mold and shape you? How will you allow me to use my word to set you free? I will meet with you in your word. I will listen attentively to you. I will make meeting with you in your word a daily priority in my life. I will meditate on and memorize your word. I will study your word. I will pray your word. I will sing your word. I will teach and proclaim your word. In every way possible I will take a firm hold of your word so that your word will take a firm hold of me. That will be very good. In doing so, you will be my disciple. In doing so, you will surely be set free. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I believe in you with all my heart. As your disciple, I will hold to your teaching. I will take your word deep into my heart and mind and life. Help me to know the truth of your word. Cause me to be set free by your word as I love and follow and serve you. Amen

Key Question…  How have you been set free by God’s word as you have heard it and put it into your daily practice?

Living It Out…  Make it the priority of your life to hear and put God’s word into practice, so by it, you can be set free.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will be set free by the power of God’s word as you hear it and put it into your daily practice.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God uses His word to change your heart and transform your mind.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you hear and know and follow and obey God’s word so you can be set free by it.

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 197 – John 8-31-32 – The Truth Will Set You Free – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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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

Responding To God’s Message

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The Spirit Empowered Life - Day 133 - Galatians 3:2-4 - Responding To God's Message - Growing As Disciples

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 133 – Galatians 3:2-4 – Responding To God’s Message – Growing As Disciples

Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God’s Message to you?  Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren’t smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it?  Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up!  Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his own presence, his Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in you? Galatians 3:2-5 (MSG)

In Your Presence

I know one thing. What’s that? I am the work of your hands. You began a good work in me on the day that I turned my life over to you. You drew me to yourself. You showed me your kindness and mercy and love. You helped me to turn away from my old life in the world. You forgave my sin. You cleansed my unrighteousness.  You made me to be acceptable in your sight. You became my Savior and My Lord. You are my God and Father. I am your child. Yes, I have done all this for you. Yes, I am all this to you. Yes, I have begun a good work in you that will continue until the day you come to live forever with me.

Let’s talk about now. How is it that I am now doing a good work in you? How is it that I am now changing your heart, transforming your mind, and guiding your life? How is it that I am molding and shaping you and making you into the person that I have called you to become? Is my work in you being accomplished by your efforts? Certainly not. I cannot complete the work that you have begun in me. I cannot make myself into the person you want me to become. Do you have no role in the work I want to do in you, for you, and through you?  I didn’t say that. I wouldn’t say that. What would you say? I would say that it is my role to draw near to you. I would say that it is my role to submit myself to you. In your presence, you are molding and shaping me into the person you want me to become. In your presence, you are doing your good work in, for and through me. Yes, in my presence I will do my good work in you, for you and through you. Will you keep on drawing near to me? Will you keep living in an intimate relationship with me? Yes, I will. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, thank you for beginning your good work in me. You have been changing my heart, transforming my mind, and guiding my life. I will trust and allow you to continue to complete your good work in me. Change me. Mold me. Shape me. Amen

Key Question…  How has God been doing His good work in you as you have drawn near to Him?

Living It Out…  Trust that God will complete and make perfect the good work that He has begun in you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will complete and make perfect the good work He began in you.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are trusting God to complete the good work He began in you.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you allow God to complete the good work that He started in you.

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

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 133 – Galatians 3-2-5 – Responding To God’s Message – 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