Category Archives: Character

My Example

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - My Example - Philippians 3:17 - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – My Example – Philippians 3:17 – Growing As Disciples

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.  Philippians 3:17 NIV

Being Watched

You are being watched. I am, by who? All those that are around you are watching you. Every person that you come into contact with has their eyes and ears tuned into you. They see all that you do. They hear all that you say. I’m not sure that I wanted to know that. Why not? Doesn’t that place a pretty heavy weight of responsibility on me? Yes, it does and probably even more so than you realize. What do you mean by that?

Your life is a message. It is, what kind of message is my life sending? Your life is suggesting to others an example of how they can live their life. There are those who are imitating you. Your life is serving as a pattern for others to follow. Now, I really feel a weight of responsibility. Why is that? I know that I am not living a perfect life. I make mistakes. I have setbacks. I sin. I am a sinner. How could I ever be a good example for others to follow?

Those admissions you just made are good examples to follow. You know that you are a sinner. You are not hiding that fact. You know that you need my forgiveness. You’re not thinking that you have or can live a sinless life. You know that you have made mistakes and have setbacks. Yet you are moving forward with me. Isn’t that also a very good example to follow? Yes, it is.

We are having this conversation together right now. Isn’t that something that sets a worthy example for others to follow? Yes, it sure is. Why do you and I have these daily conversations? We have them because you love me and I love you. I want to spend time in your presence. I want to know you and your will for my life. I want to talk to you about all the details of my life. Why is that? I don’t have all the answers. I need your guidance. I need you to teach and instruct me on how to live my life as your follower. Isn’t this also a very good example for others to follow? You are admitting to me that you need and want my help. Yes, I am. Would you be happy or sad for someone else to make the same requests of me? I would be very happy if I had any role in encouraging others to come to you for all that they need.

Do you still feel a heavy weight of responsibility knowing that others are following your example as you follow me? No, I feel more excited and encouraged. Why is that? I now know that all my life has to say is, “ follow me as I follow you.” The weight of responsibility isn’t on me at all. It is you that will mold and shape my life so that I am an example and pattern that others can follow. Yes, I will. How do you feel about that? I feel incredibly grateful that you will use my life to point others to you. Yes, I will. You can be sure of that.

Lord, only you can make my life an example that has any worth for others to follow. The only example that I can set is to rely on you completely to do all that you want to do in and through me. Use me as your witness in the world. Amen

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

Character – Philippians 3-17 – My Example – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Run With Perseverance

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Hebrews 12:1-3 - Run With Perseverance - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Hebrews 12:1-3 – Run With Perseverance – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)

Perseverance

You know quite a bit about running. You know a lot about perseverance. Yes, I know a lot about running with perseverance. Tell me what you know. To run with perseverance, motivation is needed at the very start. With rock solid motivation, training can begin. One cannot run well, with perseverance without daily training. Perseverance is built little by little, day by day through consistent and ongoing training. Each day of training builds upon the prior day of training. Running well, with perseverance begins with one step followed by thousands upon thousands of subsequent steps. Will you allow me to train you as you run on the course that I have laid out for you? Yes Lord, I will. That is very good. 

Let me ask you a question about what you have said so far. Go right ahead. What is your motivation to run well in your life of faith with me? You showed me your love. You saved me. You forgave all my sins. You cleansed me of all my unrighteousness. You rescued me from a life without you. You adopted me into your family. You are my Father. I am your child. I now love you because you first loved me. You gave yourself to me. So, I now want to give myself to you. I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. There is no place I wouldn’t go or nothing I wouldn’t do for you. I want to live my life fully with and for you. I want to live a life that is pleasing in your sight. So, as you can see, I am highly motivated to run well in my life of faith with you. I can see that quite clearly.

I have another question about motivation. What’s that? What else motivates you to run well in your life of faith with me? Many of your followers that have gone before me have run well in their race of faith with you. Many of your followers who now surround me are running well in their race of faith with you. I am encouraged by their example. They have thrown off everything that might have hindered them from running well. They have run or are now running with perseverance the course that you have laid out for them. They have not grown weary. They have not lost heart. I want to run with that same perseverance so I can be an example for others to follow. That is very good.

One more question. I’m listening. What will help you to run strong and finish well? To run strong and finish well, I will need to keep my eyes fixed on you. A good runner does not look side to side or to the rear. They keep their eyes looking forward. That is what I will do. I will keep my eyes fixed on you as I run the race of faith you have laid out before me. You will keep me running. You will help me to run well and finish strong. Yes, I will. You can be sure of that.

Lord, I will throw off everything that hinders, entangles, and slows me down in the life of faith you have given me to live with and for you. With a joyful heart, I will keep my eyes fixed on you as I run with perseverance. Help me to run well and finish strong. Amen

Key Question…  How will fixing your eyes on Jesus Christ enable you to run with persevere and finish strong?

Living It Out…  Throw off anything from your life that hinders, entangles, or slows you down from running well and finishing strong.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that Jesus Christ will help you to run with perseverance as your keep your eyes on Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group the joy that you have in running the race Christ has set before you.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you keep your eyes on the Lord as you run with perseverance the race He has set before you.

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

Character – Hebrews 12-1-3 – Run With Perseverance – 4 Page Discipleship 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

Humble Yourselves

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - 1 Peter 1:5-6 - Humble Yourselves - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – 1 Peter 1:5-6 – Humble Yourselves – Growing As Disciples

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 1 Peter 5:6 (NIV)

 Due Time

I have lived a backwards life. What do you mean by that? I have thought that life should revolve around me. I have thought that I should be the center of everyone’s attention. I have tried to earn the notice, respect and admiration of those around me. I have chased after honors. I have sought after awards. My pride has led me to seek the esteem and the applause of the crowd. That sounds like an exhausting life to live. Have you ever received enough recognition? Have you ever been able to satisfy your pride filled empty life? No, I have worn myself trying to prove to myself and to others that I was somebody special.

Now, I want to live a completely different kind of life. What kind of life do you want to live? I want to live a life that revolves around you. I want you to be the center of my life. I want my heart and mind and life to be focused on you. I want to know your will and walk in your ways. I want to love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I want to know you intimately. I want to hear your voice. I want to receive your guidance. I want to follow your direction. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do all that you ask of me. I will humbly follow you. I want to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I want to do what is pleasing in your sight. That’s quite different from your old life. Yes, it is.

What has brought you to this point? Your old life was filled with pride. Your new life is filled with humility. Your old life was spent serving yourself. Your new life is being spent serving others. I discovered the poverty of my old life. I have discovered the riches of the new life you have given to me. In my old life, I could accomplish nothing of real and eternal value. In my new life, you are making me able to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. In my old life, I proudly tried to elevate myself before others. In my new life, you are helping me to humble myself before you. In my old life, I was worn out, discouraged and empty. In my new life, I am energized, excited and full. You have brought me to this place. You have given me this new life to live. Yes, I have and in due time you will be lifted up as you continue to humbly serve me. 

Lord, I have been filled with pride. I have thought I was a big deal and quite special. I have thought a lot of myself and very little of others. Forgive me. I will humble myself before you. I will rely on you for all I need. I will allow me to use me to serve others. Amen

Key Question…  May you walk humbly with God so that He can exalt you in due time.

Living It Out…  Live a life of humility so that the Lord can exalt you in due time.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will you exalt you in due time as you live your life humbly before Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are humbly following and serving the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you live a godly life filled with prayers that the Lord will hear and answer.

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

Character – 1 Peter 5-6 – Humble Yourselves – 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

Seek Peace

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character- 1 Peter 3:10-12 - Seek Peace - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character- 1 Peter 3:10-12 – Seek Peace – Growing As Disciples

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. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:10-12 (NIV)

Peacemaker

Do you want to live the life that I have called you to live? Yes, of course I want to live the life that you have called me to live. Do you want to enjoy life and see many good days? Yes, who would not want that? Do you want me to hear and answer your prayers? Most of all I want you to hear and answer my prayers. Why is that? I want to know you. I want to love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I want to live in a close and intimate relationship with you. I want to hear your voice. I want to know and do your will. In every way I want to do what pleases you. When you asked, “Do you want me to hear and answer you prayers?” I was not thinking that you asked, “Do you want me to give you everything you ask for?” What were you thinking? I was thinking of living in a back and forth conversation with you. My prayers are a conversation with you. I want to draw near to you. I want you to draw near to me. I want to talk to you. I want you to talk to me. That is very good. Isn’t that a desire that you have put into my heart? Yes, it is.

There are some things that you must do with your life if you want to live in a close and intimate relationship with me. You have my full attention. Oh no, you have my full attention. You tell me what you must do. I thought you might say that. I must turn away from evil and do good. How will that be demonstrated? I will keep a very close guard over the words of my mouth. I will keep my lips from speaking evil. I will use the words of my mouth for doing good. How will that be demonstrated? The words of my mouth will be an expression of seeking and pursuing peace. I will not allow my words to fan flames of conflict. My words will lead to peace. You will use my words to bring about peace. Yes, I will. What else? I’m not sure what else there is to say. I know that turning away from evil and pursuing peace will allow me to love life, see many good days and live the life that you have called me to live. Yes, it will. There is more. You will hear my prayers. Yes, I will. Many of our conversations will be about you using me as a peacemaker in the world. You want me to be a peacemaker. Yes, I do. That is how I will use your life. That is how you will learn to love life and see many good days. You will be a peacemaker for me.

Lord, I will turn away from evil and do good. I will seek peace and pursue it. I will keep a close guard over the words that come out of my mouth. I want to love the life you have given me to live with and for you. Hear and answer my prayers as I follow you. Amen

Key Question…  How are you turning from evil, doing good, and seeking and pursing peace in all your relationships?

Living It Out… Turn from evil and do good as you seek and pursue peace in all your relationships.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will give you good days as you turn from evil, do good, and seek peace and pursue.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are seeking and pursuing peace in all your relationships.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you turn from evil and do good as you seek and pursue peace.

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

Character – 1 Peter 3-10-12 – Seek Peace – 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

Trust In The Lord

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Proverbs 3:5-8 - Trust In The Lord- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Proverbs 3:5-8 – Trust In The Lord- Growing As Disciples

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8 (NIV)  

Trust Me

The entire course of your life will be guided by how you answer one question. Are you ready to hear that one question? Yes, I am ready to hear the question that you want to ask me. Will you trust me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength? Let that question sink into your heart and mind before you give me your answer. Don’t rush to give me a quick answer. You answer must come from all that is within you. You must not say one thing and do another in answer to my question. What do you mean by that? You must not say that you will trust me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength and do just the opposite. That would not be good. No, it would not.

What would happen if you said you were going to trust me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength and then you did the opposite? Before I answer that question, I think I need to better understand what doing the opposite of trusting you would look like. If I don’t really trust you, who or what would I trust? That is a good question for you to think through and answer for yourself. Why is that? It will be important for you to recognize when you aren’t trusting me. So, go ahead and answer your question. If I don’t trust you I suppose I would start to trust everything and anyone other than you. I would trust myself most of all. I would pridefully rely on my own understanding. I would foolishly rely on the wisdom of others. How has relying on yourself and others worked out for you? Relying on myself and others has led me on a crooked path. I have foolishly wandered from one unproductive thing to another. I have suffered disastrous defeats and stunning setbacks. I have wasted a lot of time and effort on things that have not amounted to anything of value. I have worn myself out trying to live a self-indulgent, self-centered, and self-reliant life. I have gone nowhere and done nothing of lasting value as part of that life. That’s not good.

You have seen the error of your ways. You have turned away from the foolishness of your old life. You have turned away from evil. You are now loving, following and serving me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength. Yes, I am. So, I can, will and have been answering your question with my thoughts, words and deeds. I am not saying one thing and doing another. I am trusting you with all that is within me. I am giving to you all that I am, all that I have and all that I hope to be. Living the life that you have given to me is bringing health to my body and healing to my bones. I am walking on the path of life with you. You are leading and guiding my life. Yes, I am. That is very good. Yes, it is. 

Lord, so often, I have relied on myself. My own understanding has led me on a crooked path. I have wasted time and wandered from one thing to another. I want you to guide my life. I will trust in you with all my heart. Make my path straight as I follow you. Amen

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

Character – Proverbs 3-5-8 – Trust In The Lord – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Love Is

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - Love Is - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love Is – Growing As Disciples

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV)

Work In You

How has love caused you to bear all things? How has love helped you to believe all things? How has love given you hope in all things? How has love strengthened you to endure all things? Those are tough questions. Why is that? I have not love liked you love. I have not followed your example. I have not lived like you lived. Would you like to love like I loved? Would you like to follow my example? Would you like to live like I lived? Yes, I want to follow your example. I want to become like you. I want to do what you did. I want to live like you lived. I want to love like you loved. Do you have this power to love within you? Do you mean can I love like you loved with my own strength. That is not what I asked. But, go ahead and answer that question. No, I certainly cannot love like you loved with my own strength. Neither can I lived like you lived or become like you with my own strength. That’s true, you have answered me correctly on that question. But, let’s go back to my original question. Do I have the power within me to love like you loved? Yes, you could expand that question to include, live like I lived, follow my example, and become like me. Before you answer, let me give you a clue. What’s that? Don’t say, “no.” That’s quite a clue. Do I have the power within me to love like you loved, live like you lived and follow your example? That is the question under consideration. The answer is not no. The answer is yes. How can the answer be yes? I know. Your Holy Spirit is living and dwelling inside of me. Yes, He is. Your Holy Spirit is living and working inside of me. Yes, He is. Your Holy Spirit will make me able to love like you loved and live like you lived. Your Holy Spirit will make me able to follow your example so that I will become like you. Yes, He will. I should expect that your Holy Spirit will make me able to bear all things, believe all things, hope all things and endure all things as I love, follow and serve you. That’s right. Will you allow my Holy Spirit to do His complete work in you? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I have not been patient. I have not been kind. I have been arrogant and filled with pride. I have been self-seeking. I have kept a record of wrongs. I want no more of this kind of self-centered life. I want to follow your example. Help me to love like you loved. Amen

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

Character – 1 Corinthians 13-4-7 – Love Is – 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

Your Heart Will Be

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Discipleship Devoional Study Guide - Character - Matthew 6:19-21 - Your Heart Will Be - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Matthew 6:19-21 – Your Heart Will Be – Growing As Disciples

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)  

Store Up 

What has your attention? How do you spend your time? How are you using the life you have been given? Are you pursuing all that the world offers? Are you seeking your own comfort and pleasure? Are you living for yourself? Are you living for others? Are you living for me? Those are all good questions. I know that my answers to those questions have changed over time. How so? At one time, I was living for myself. I was seeking my own comfort and pleasure. The world and all that it offered had my complete attention. I was like a kid in a candy store. I wanted it all. Just like having too much of a good thing in a candy store will make you sick, so will living for all the comforts and pleasures of this world. Just like having the latest greatest and greatest toy in the store will never satisfy, nor will the next comfort and pleasure of the world. What the world offers is temporary. It will not satisfy. It will not last. It cannot be taken with you when you leave this world. It is a foolish expenditure of a life to chase after all the candy and toys of this life. These are things that I have learned and am learning as I go through life following you. That’s good. 

I want to invest my life. I want my life to be well spent. I’m done trying to store up earthly treasures that will waste away. I want to invest my life in what will count for all eternity. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom. I want to bring glory to your name. I want to be used by you. I want to store up treasures in heaven with you. I want people to great me in heaven and say that they are there because you used me to reach out to them. I want to know that you are using me to bring others to you. I want to be a worker in your harvest. Will you use me? Will you enable me to bear fruit for you? Will you help me to store up treasure in heaven with you? Are these the desires and prayers of your heart? Yes, these are the desires and prayers of my heart. Do you know what I do with desires of your heart? Yes, you both give and grant them. Yes, I do. Yes, I will help you to bear fruit for my kingdom. Yes, I will help you to store up treasures in heaven as you follow and serve me. Lead on, I will follow and serve you. That will be very good.

Lord, I have spent plenty of time, talent and resources trying to store up treasures on the earth. What a wasteful expenditure. Help me now to bear fruit for your kingdom. I will follow you. I will serve you. Use me now to store up treasure in heaven with you. Amen

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

Character – Matthew 6-19-21 – Your Heart Will Be – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Be Kind To Everyone

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - 2 Timothy 2:24-26 - Be Kind To Everyone - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – 2 Timothy 2:24-26 – Be Kind To Everyone – Growing As Disciples

And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 (NIV)

Yes

Do you want to have abundant opportunities to minister to others? Do you want to bear fruit for my kingdom? Do you want to bring glory to my name? Do you want to shine as a bright witness for me in the world? Do you want to be used by me? Do you want to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans? Who would say no to any one of your questions? You would be surprised at how many are unwilling to do what is necessary to be able to say an emphatic and resounding yes to my questions. Many will say yes in their minds and no in their hearts to the questions that I have asked of you. What does that mean? What must I do to say an emphatic and resounding yes to your questions? How can I answer your questions with a yes in both my mind and heart? Those are very good questions.

Let me ask you some more questions. I’m listening. What will hinder your ability to be used by me? What will open doors of opportunity for you to be used by me? If I love like you loved I will be used by you. If others can see your life being lived in and through me doors of ministry will be opened to me. That’s right. If I fail to live like you lived then that will hinder my ability to be used by you. What might that look like? If I was unkind, no one would want to give me the time of day. If I was harsh, no one would have any desire to listen to me. If I was filled with pride and full of resentment, others would make every effort to stay far away from me. That’s right.

Now do you know what it will require of you to say an emphatic and resounding yes in your heart and mind to my questions? I think so. Let me hear your answer. If I really want to be used by you, I will need to take on the form of a servant. Life will need to cease to be all about me. I will need to set aside my privileges and rights. In doing so, I will give of myself to others. I will love like you loved. I will give like you gave. I will do what you did. I will be loving and kind and gentle. I will make it my purpose, plan and goal to win others over to you. I will allow you to use my life to help others escape the devil’s grasp. That will be very good. Then you will be saying an emphatic and resounding yes to me. Then I will use you to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name.

Lord, I know that being quarrelsome will make me an ineffective and unfruitful witness for you in the world. Instead of quarreling I will treat everyone with your gentleness, kindness, mercy and love. Help me to bear abundant fruit for your kingdom and glory. Amen

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

Character – 2 Timothy 2-24-26 – Be Kind To Everyone – 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

Remains In Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - John 15:5 - Remains In Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – John 15:5 – Remains In Me – Growing As Disciples

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NIV)

Well Done

My life has not been particularly fruitful. That sounds like a dramatic understatement to me. The truth is, my life has been like a barren wasteland. I have worked extremely hard and accomplished very little. Oh sure, I can point to achievements that the world might recognize and applaud. But, at the end of the day, at the end of my life, what will stand the test of time and last for all eternity? That is a very good question. Many go through their entire life without asking any questions like that. You want your life to have mattered. You want your life to have made a mark. You want to be able to look back over your life and see that it was well spent. Most of all, you want to hear me say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Have I heard you correctly? Is all that I have said about you true? Yes, I want my life to count. I want to make a mark. I want my life to have been well spent.

How will you know if your life counted, made its mark and was well spent? That may sound like a difficult and unanswerable question. It is an easy question for me to answer. Really, let me hear your answer. I will know if my life counted, made its mark and was well spent if I went and did your will. How will you know my will? How will you be able to go and do my will? Again, that is not a difficult question to answer. I will know your will if I have listened to you. To listen to you I must live in an intimate relationship with you. I must spend time in your presence. I quiet myself before you. I must wait for your instructions. I must receive your guidance. I also know that you will ask me to do what I cannot possibly do without your help. Why is that? You want me to live a life of relying on you. You want me to follow you to where you lead me. You want me to do what you ask of me. You want me to rely on your power and strength to help me to do what only you can do in and through me. As I go where you guide me and do what you ask of me, I know that I will be accomplishing your purposes and fulfilling your plans. That’s right. If I keep on loving, following and serving you, I will one day hear you say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Yes, you will. 

Lord, I know that apart for you I can do nothing. My life has been an example of working hard and accomplishing nothing of eternal value. I want to be fruitful for you. Help me to remain in you so I will bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional study guide click here:

Character – John 15-5 – Remains In Me – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Shine Like Stars

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Philippians 2 - Shine Like Stars - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Philippians 2 – Shine Like Stars – Growing As Disciples

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life–in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. Philippians 2:14-16 (NIV) 

Work To Do

I have given you work to do for me in this world. I have a purpose and plan for your life. I have called you to go and do my will. I want you to be my bright and bold witness in the world. I want you to shine like a star in the universe.  This comes as welcome news to me. I want to know and do your will. I want to be able to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I want to be a bold and bright witness for you in the world. I want to shine like a star in the universe so that others will be drawn to you through my life. That is very good.

What might hinder me from being a bold and bright witness for you in the world? That is a very good question. I am glad that you asked it. However, I do think that you know the answer to this question. I will listen to what you can say to me in answer to your own question. I must confess that I have been a complainer and an arguer. I have complained about the difficulty of life and the work you have given me to do for you. I have argued with you about your purposes and plans for my life. I have said that the work was too difficult and that I am unable, unqualified and unprepared to do what you have asked me to do for you. That’s not good. I know. Why is it not good that you have been a complainer and arguer? Complaining and arguing are the ways of the world. Complaining and arguing is standard practice in the world. If I let myself be a complainer and an arguer then there will be no way that I will be able to shine as a bold and bright witness for you in the world. No, you will not. What else? If I continue to complain and argue I will never accomplish the purposes and plans you have for my life. Why is that? What you ask of me will require faith. For me to be able to do what you ask of me I will need to come to rely on you. If I come to you to complain and argue, my faith will not grow. If I continue to complain and argue, I will never rely on you to go and do what you ask of me. That’s true. So, I will stop complaining and arguing. I will place all my faith in you. I will come to rely on you. I will allow you to use me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans so that my labor will never be in vain. That will be very good.

Lord, I want to be a bold, bright, pure, and vibrant witness for you in the world. Help me to do what you have given me to do without complaining or arguing. Help me also, to be holding out your word of life to others in the world so they can come to know you. Amen

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

Character – Philippians 2-14-16 – Shine Like Stars – 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