The Way, Truth, Life

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 93 - John 14:6 - The Way, Truth, Life - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 93 – John 14:6 – The Way, Truth, Life – Growing As Disciples

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NIV) 

Direction

You are my direction in life, of that I am sure. How am I your direction in life? You are the way. You are my way through life. You guide me through life. You not only point me in the right direction, you lead me through life. For that I am very thankful. What make you most thankful? Without you I would be lost and without hope both now in this life and forever in the next life. You are my way of salvation. You are my way of forgiveness and cleansing. You are the way to my living in an intimate relationship with my Heavenly Father. You made the way so that your Holy Spirit could come to live and dwell in me. Yes, I have done all these things for you. Yes, I am all these things to you.

How else am I your direction in life? You are the truth. You know the truth. You speak the truth. You are the embodiment of truth. Without you, my heart and mind would fall victim to all the thoughts and opinions and values of the world. My heart and mind and life would be molded and shaped by the patterns and practices of the world. You make the truth known to me. You use the truth to change my heart and transform my mind. It is hearing and knowing and obeying your truth that sets me free. Yes, I have done all these things for you. Yes, I am all these things to you.

How else am I your direction in life? You are the life. You revive my live. You refresh my life. You renew my life. In every way you give me fullness of life. Without, you I would be stumbling around in darkness. I would be wandering around from one fruitless pursuit after another. You give my life purpose and meaning and hope. You give my life meaning and direction. You guide me to where you want me to go. You give me what you want me to do. It is you that makes me able to live a fruitful life. Without you, I would be unable to bear fruit for your kingdom or bring glory to your name. Without you, I would not be able to be a witness in the world for you. But your life lives in me. Your life living in me draws others to you. One day, I will come to live forever in heaven because of the new life I have you. One day, there will be a bountiful harvest for your kingdom and a full and rich gathering in heaven of a multitude of your followers because of the life you have given to us all. You are, life itself and also the giver of life. Yes, I am. I am all these things to you and to all who follow me. Thank you, Lord.  

Lord, you are the way, the truth and the life. Without you, I would not know the way to go. Without you, I would not know what to think. Without you, I would not know how to live. You have been my guide. Lead me. I will follow you in all I think, say and do. Amen

Key Question…  How has the Lord both pointed and led you on your way through life?

Living It Out…  Allow Jesus Christ to guide the way you go, what you know, and how you live.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that your new life in Christ will change the way you go, what you know, and how you live.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how Christ has changed way you go, what you know, and how you live.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you follow the Lord’s way, know His truth, and live His life.

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

Day 93 – Becoming Like Christ – John 14-6 – The Way, Truth, Life – 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

More Precious Than Gold

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 94 - Psalm 119:7-11 - More Precious Than Gold - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 94 – Psalm 119:7-11 – More Precious Than Gold – Growing As Disciples

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 19:7-11 (NIV)  

Gold 

Your word is more precious to me than gold. Your word is sweeter to me than honey. I can say that with great conviction. I can believe this without a doubt. Why do you have such strong belief and solid conviction about the value of my word? That is a very good question. Let me first say why gold and any other material possession is of no real and lasting value to me. I am passing through this life. I brought no material possessions into this life and I will take no material possessions out of this life. What I or anyone else thinks they own is theirs to enjoy for a very, very short time. One might say that I or anyone else is like a short-term renter of the material things of this life. No material possession holds any long term or eternal value. That is true. The wealth and material possessions of life can also do me great harm. How so? If I allow my life to be all about pursuing material possessions, I will miss what is of lasting and eternal value. I will chase after what is not important. I will live for what will not last. What is of eternal of value? Knowing and loving and following and serving you is of eternal value. Your word is of eternal value. How is my word of eternal value? Your word helps me to come to know and to love and to follow and serve you. Your word revives me. Your word makes me wise. Your word makes me radiant and gives me joy. Your word guards and guides me through life. Your word molds and shapes me. Your word strengthens and sustains me. I will become the person you have called me to be as I take your word deep into my heart and mind and life. Yes, you will. Beyond of all these things, your word will make me able to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Yes, it will. As I bear fruit for your kingdom, I will be storing up treasure in heaven with you. For all of these reasons I can confidently say that your word is more precious, desirable or valuable than gold. Yes, you can. Keep on meeting with me in my word. Yes, I will. 

Lord, use your word to do your work in my life. Revive me by your word. Make me wise by your word. Make me radiant with joy by your word. Guide my life by your word. Help me to know the warnings, value, sweetness and reward of keeping all your word. Amen

Key Question…  What reward have you found in keeping God’s word?

Living It Out…  Allow God to use His word in your life by taking it deep into your heart and mind.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will use His word to do His work in your life.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are allowing God’s word to work in your life.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you allow God to use His word to do His work in your life.

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

Day 94 – Becoming Like Christ – Psalm 19-7-11 – More Precious Than Gold – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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

Claims To Have Faith

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - 365 Days Of Guidance - Day 45 - James 2:14-17 - Claims To Have Faith - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – 365 Days Of Guidance – Day 45 – James 2:14-17 – Claims To Have Faith – Growing As Disciples

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:14-17 (NIV)

Real Faith

There are two things about which I don’t want you to be confused. What are they? You know that my salvation is a free gift. You know that you cannot earn or in any way merit your salvation. You know that you cannot make yourself acceptable in my sight. My Son came into this world to die and pay for your sins. In faith you turned away from your sins and accepted Him into your life as your Savior and Lord. Yes, your Son, Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. He forgave my sin and cleansed me of all my unrighteous. He made me acceptable in your sight. Yes, He did. This is first of all what I want you to be clear about. I understand. By faith, Jesus Christ is my Savior and Lord. By faith, you are my God and Father. By faith, I know that I am filled with your Holy Spirit. What else do you want me to be clear about?

Your faith in me is real and alive and active. Your faith in me will show itself to the world. How will my faith in you show itself to the world? I will be working in and through your life every day. I will open your eyes to what I want you to see. I will open your ears to what I want you to hear. I will open your heart to what I want you to do. Because of your faith in me, you will want to do what I ask of you. Because of your love for me, you will want to do what I have given you to do for me. You will want to go where I send you. You will want to do what I ask of you. Does this sound like a hard and burdensome task to you? No, not at all, it will be my pleasure and joy to serve you. I want to be used by you. I want to bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom. I want to bring glory to your name. Yes, I know that is what you want to do for me. You will bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name, as your faith in me is real and alive and active. This is very clear to me. This is the desire of my heart that is filled with real faith in you.  That is very good.

Lord, I want my faith in you to be real and alive and active. I want my faith in you to be demonstrafyted to the world. Open my eyes to see how you want to use me. Open my heart to do good deeds you have given me to do. Draw others to you through my faith. Amen

Key Question…  What good works has the Lord done through your life because of your faith in Him?

Living It Out…  Allow the Lord to work through your life so your faith will be alive and demonstrated to others in the world.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will work through your life in ways that will demonstrate your faith to the world.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is working through your life and demonstrating your faith.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May your faith in the Lord be demonstrated to the world today.

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

365 Days Of Guidance – Day 45 – Claims To Have Faith – 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

We Shall Become Like Him

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 95 - 1 John 3:1-3 - We Shall Become Like Him - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 95 – 1 John 3:1-3 – We Shall Become Like Him – Growing As Disciples

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:1-3 (NIV)  

Lavished With Love

There is no doubt about that. There is no doubt about what? There is no doubt that you have lavished me with your love. How have I lavished you with my love? You have lavished me with your love in ways too numerous to count. Name a few ways that I have lavished you with my love. You made it possible for me to be adopted into your family. You sent your Son into the world to pay for my sins so that I could be forgiven of all my unrighteousness. You broke down the barrier that prevented me from living in an intimate relationship with you. You rescued me from a life without you both now and forever. You have made me to be your child. You are my Heavenly Father. Yes, I am. Yes, I have done all these things for you. For that, I am very thankful. That is very good.

How else have I lavished you with my love? You put your Holy Spirit in me. Your Holy Spirit in me is like a deposit guaranteeing that I have an inheritance in heaven with you. One day I will come to live forever in heaven with you. One day, I will see you. One day, I will be completely changed. How so? I will become like your Son. Yes, you will. Knowing this fills me with hope and peace and joy. Knowing this fills me with praise and thanksgiving to you. This hope fills me with passion to live my life with and for you. I want to live a life that is fully pleasing to you. I long for the day when I will come to live in heaven forever with you. In the meantime, you are changing me day by day. You are molding and shaping me. You are helping me to live the life that you have called me to live. Even now, you have started the work of making me to be like your Son. Yes, I have. Your work will reach its completion on the day I come to live with you. Yes, it will. That will be a glorious day. Yes, it will. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for lavishing me with your love. You made me to be your child. You are helping me to come to know, love, follow and serve you. You are molding and shaping my life. You are making me to be like your Son. I welcome your work in me. Amen

Key Question… How is your heart and mind and life focused on Christ so that you will become like Him?

Living It Out… Focus your heart and mind and life on Christ so that your Heavenly Father will be able to make you like Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your Heavenly Father will lavish you with His love and make you to be like His Son.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are becoming more like Christ as you focus yourself on Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow your Heavenly Father to make you to be like His Son.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 95 – 1 John 3-1-3 – We Shall Become Like Him – 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

Honor God With Your Body

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 96 - 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 - Honor God With Your Body - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 96 – 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 – Honor God With Your Body – Growing As Disciples

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (NIV)

Flee Sexual Immorality

I know that I was bought with a price. You sent your Son into the world to pay for my sins and cleanse my unrighteousness. I know that my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. On the day that I asked forgiveness of my sins you became my Savior and Lord. On that same day, at that very moment you filled me with your Holy Spirit. Your Holy Spirit came to live and dwell inside of me. From then on, my body became a temple of your Holy Spirit. Yes, all of this is true. What does this mean to you? I’m not sure what you are asking of me. How will you treat your body now that it is a temple of my Holy Spirit? I will honor you with my body.

How will you honor your body? First of all, I will flee sexual immorality. How will you flee sexual immorality? I will remove myself from people, places and circumstances that might tempt me to commit sexual immorality. What else? It is important that I  quickly flee sexual immorality when it tries to come near me. Why is it important to quickly flee sexual immorality? If I linger around sexual immorality it is likely to entice an entrap me. It is very good that you know this. Is there anything more that you want to say about fleeing sexual immorality? Yes, I do. I will not simply run away from sexual immorality. That will not be nearly enough. That alone will not give me victory. What else will you do? I will run to you. I will draw near to you. I know you will draw near to me. I will submit myself to you. I will resist the devil and all his evil. What will then happen? The devil and all his evil will flee from me.

Do you have any final thoughts on fleeing sexual immorality? Yes, I do. I will allow you to use your word to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. When I am drawing near to you, I will take your word deep into my heart and mind. I will meditate on your word. I will memorize your word. I will allow your word to dwell in me richly. Why is that? I know that your Holy Spirit will take your word and use it like a sword to fight in me, with me, for me and through me. Your Holy Spirit, using your word, will make me able to stand against temptation and resist evil. Then I will truly be able to flee sexual immorality and honor you with my body. Yes, you will.

Holy Spirit, in the past I have not guarded what I allowed my mind to think. I have not set my mind on what you desire. I have not welcomed you to change my heart and transform my mind with God’s word. Well, I am now. Amen

Key Question… What strategies are using to flee sexual immorality in its various forms?

Living It Out… Flee sexual immorality and make sure you honor God with your body which is a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you were bought with a price and your body has become a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group the variety of ways you are honoring God with your body.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you honor God with your body which is a temple of the Holy Spirit.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 96 – 1 Corinthians 6-18-20 – Honor God With Your Body – 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

For God So Loved

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - 365 Days Of Guidance - Day 44- John 3:16-18 - For God So Loved - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – 365 Days Of Guidance – Day 44- John 3:16-18 – For God So Loved – Growing As Disciples

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.  John 3:16-18

Certainty

How can you be certain that I love you?  The answer to that question seems quite clear to me. You sent your one and only Son into the world to die for my sins. Who would do such a thing, no one that I know on this earth.  It had to have taken desperate circumstances for you to make that drastic choice. Well, you were living far from me in a dark, sin filled life. You were on a path headed away from me, to an eternity without me. Is there any situation more drastic than that?  No, I’m sure that no circumstance could be more drastic than that.

Why was it necessary for me to send my Son into the world for you?  There was no other way to erase the stain of my sin. My sin separated me from you. We could not live in a relationship together. There was nothing that I could do to erase my sin. I couldn’t earn your forgiveness. No matter how hard I would try to live a good life I would never be pure in your sight. You are Holy and I was not.  It took your Son’s blood shed on the cross to wash away my sins so I could be forgiven and cleansed of all my unrighteousness.  Yes, it did. Now, you are holy in my sight because of all that my Son has done for you. Now, we can live in a relationship together. For that I am so thankful.

Let’s talk about believing. For quite awhile you believed all the important facts about my Son, didn’t you? Yes, I did. Did you really believe in Him then? You must have heard me say, “I believe everything about Jesus Christ but what difference does that make to me?” Yes, I heard that. At that time, I didn’t really believe in him. Explain that. Well, I certainly hadn’t turned away from my sin. I didn’t ask for or want forgiveness of my sins. I was enjoying my sin. One day that all changed didn’t it? Yes, it did. I had to hit rock bottom before I was ready to turn away from my sin and ask for your Son’s forgiveness and cleansing of my sin. But, you did that.  Yes, I did.

What has happened to your life since you began to follow my Son as your Savior and Lord? Well, the whole course of my life has changed as a result. How so? I now want to follow Him. What’s that mean?  I want to go where He guides me, to do all that He asks of me. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name.  I’m living my life according to your will, instead of my own. It is my joy to serve you. It is my desire to know you. I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I know for sure that you are my Father and I am your child.  Yes, you are. I am certain that I have already started to live the eternal life that I have in you. Yes, you have.

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me and sending your Son into the world to die for my sins. I believe in Jesus Christ and I’m following Him as my Savior and Lord. I look forward to the day when I will live in heaven with you. Amen

Key Question…  How has believing in Jesus Christ changed the entire course of your life?

Living It Out…  Believe in Jesus Christ and receive forgiveness of all your sins so you can live forever in heaven with Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that by believing in Jesus Christ you will be forgiven of your sins and be able to live in Heaven with Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you came to believe in Jesus Christ as your Savor and Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you follow Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.

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

365 Days Of Guidance – Day 44 – John 3-16-18 – For God So Loved – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Please HIs Neighbor

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide- 365 Days Of Guidance - Day 43 - Romans 15:1-3 - Please His Neighbor - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide- 365 Days Of Guidance – Day 43 – Romans 15:1-3 – Please His Neighbor – Growing As Disciples

We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” Romans 15:1-3 (NKJV)

Out Of My Way

Are you willing to go out of your way for others? Are you willing to be inconvenienced in order to serve people in need? Will you do for others what I have done for you? Will you humble yourself and take on the form of a servant? Yes Lord, I will do whatever you ask of me. Will you set aside your comfort and pleasure to serve me? Yes Lord, I will do whatever you ask of me. Will you give your time, talent, and resources to those who are in need? Yes Lord, I will do whatever you ask of me.

I’m asking you to open your eyes to those who are in need all around you. I’m asking you to soften your heart to those who need your help. I’m asking you to reach out your hands to those I want you to serve. Will you do this for me? Yes Lord, I will do whatever you ask of me. 

Haven’t I shown you how to live? Haven’t I shown you what I want you to do? Haven’t I been your example? Do you want to do for others what I have done for you? I’m thinking of a question that I dare not ask. I don’t want to seem ungrateful. Go ahead and ask it. I won’t think that you are ungrateful. I want to hear your answer so that I can serve you more fully. I want to be like you. I want to do what you have done. I want to give like you gave. I want to love like you loved. I want to live like you lived. So, here is my question, “What have you done for me?” I left heaven to come to earth for you. I became a man so that you could know me. I gave up all my rights. I humbled myself and took on the form of a servant. I allowed myself to be spurned and rejected. I allowed myself to be hurt and humiliated. I allowed myself to be crucified on a cross so that you could be forgiven of all your sins and cleansed of all your unrighteousness. I gave you salvation as a free gift. You will now live forever in heaven with me. I am so thankful for all that you have done for me. You went way out of your way for me. You gave everything that you had to give. You didn’t hold back anything. Is that what you will do for me? Will you give me all that you have to give? Will you go way out of your way to serve me? Will you go out of your way to serve others? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I will not live to please myself. I will not live for my own comfort and convenience. Help me to go out of my way to help people in need. Use me to always encourage, build up, and strengthen those who are weak in their faith.  Amen

Key Question…  How are you following Jesus Christ as your role model for going out of your way to help someone in need?

Living It Out…  Go out of your way to help people who are in need and especially those who are weak in their faith.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will use you to encourage and strengthen those who are weak in their faith.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used you to strengthen others in their faith.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you go out of your way to help people in need and especially those who are weak in their faith.

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

365 Days of Guidance – Day 43 – Romans 15-1-3 – Please HIs Neighbor – 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

Come To Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 97 - Matthew 11:28-30 - Come To Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 97 – Matthew 11:28-30 – Come To Me – Growing As Disciples

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

Easy Yoke, Light Burden

Here I am. I have withdrawn from the busyness of life. Yes, I am weary and worn out. I need the rest that only you can give. I need you to revive, refresh and restore my life. But I need and want far more from you. What do you want from me? I will simply say that I want all that you have in mind to give me. I want to receive all that you have for me. Would you like to be more specific? Yes, I would. I want you to mold and shape my life. I want you to change my heart and transform my mind. I want you to guide my life. I want to live the kind of life you lived. I want to follow in your steps. I want to go where you went. I want to do what you did. It sounds to me like you want me to make you to be exactly like me. Is that true? Yes, that is the utmost desire of my heart. That is the goal of my life. That is the pursuit of all my endeavors. I want to become like you. I want to think your thoughts. I want to speak your words. I want to take your actions. You are making a very good request from me.

What must you do if you want to become like me? I must come to you. I must rest and remain in your presence. I must make myself fully available to you. I must seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. Then I will come to know and love you. Then you will make me to be like you. I will be changed as I remain in your presence. Yes, you will. What else will you be able to do as you remain in my presence and I make you to be like me? I will be able to carry your easy yoke and light burden Yes, you will. Why will you be able to carry my light yoke and easy burden? I will be able to carry your light yoke and easy burden because doing so will be the desire of my heart. I will doing what I want to do because I will have come to love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I will be living the life I have always wanted to live. Which is? To do what is good and right and pleasing in your eyes. That is very good.

Lord, I know that your yoke is not easy, and burden is not light if I try to carry it with my own strength. But you will make me more like you as I come daily to rest in your presence. Then you will make your yoke easy and your burden light for me to carry. Amen

Key Question… How are you making it your daily pattern to come to Christ to rest in His presence?

Living It Out… Come to Christ and remain in His presence so that He can make you more like Him; able to carry His yoke and burden.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that as you rest in Christ’s presence, He will make you to be more like Him; able to carry His yoke and burden.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are daily allowing Christ to make you to be more like Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you come to Christ and rest in His presence so He can make you to be like Him, able to carry His burden.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 97 – Matthew 11-28-30 – Come To Me – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

If You Forgive Others

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - 365 Days Of Guidance - Day 42 - Matthew 6:14-15 - If You Forgive Others - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – 365 Days Of Guidance – Day 42 – Matthew 6:14-15 – If You Forgive Others – Growing As Disciples

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.  Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV)

Forgiveness

You have said that you want to know me. You have told me that you want to be like me. Is this true? Yes, I want to know you. Yes, I want to be like you. You want to know my will and walk in my ways. You want to join me in what I am doing. Is this true as well? Yes, I want to know your will, walk in your ways, and join you in what you are doing. These are very good desires that you have in your heart and on your mind. I have one more question for you. Go ahead, ask me, I’m listening. What do you think I’m doing? That seems like an impossible question. How can I possibly know what you are doing? I will ask you a different question? What have a done for you? I could answer that question a thousand different ways. You have done so much for me. However, I think you are looking for one particular answer at this moment. Yes, I am. Do you have the answer that I am looking for? I think so. You forgave my sins. Yes, I did. That is exactly the answer I was looking for. Did I forgive some of your sins, or did I forgive you of all your sins? You forgave me of all my sins. Yes, that is exactly what I did for you. Once I forgave your sins what were we able to do together? We were able to live in a relationship with each other. Nothing separated us from each other. There was no longer a wall that divided us from each other. Yes, that’s right.

Now, I have another question for you. Ask, away. If you want to be like me and join me in what I am doing what will you do for others?  I see where this conversation is headed. I have some barriers that exist with some people. Like who? There are people that have hurt me.  I could say that they have sinned against me. I don’t really like them. I don’t want to be around them. If I never saw them again that would be just fine with me. Are you still holding on to bitterness towards them? Have you forgiven them of what they have done to you? I’m still bitter. I’m still hurt. I’m pretty sure that I haven’t forgiven them yet. This is a new day, isn’t it? You no longer need to carry bitterness and unforgiveness. You can be set free from carrying that heavy burden. How is that? Oh, I’m sure that you know the answer to that question. You want me to forgive others just as you have forgiven me. Yes, I do. Is that what you want to do? Is that what you will do? Yes Lord, I will let go of bitterness and unforgiveness. I will forgive others just as you have forgiven me. I will set down the heavy burden that I have been carrying. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, thank you for forgiving me of all my sins. Help me to do for others what you have done for me. Just as you have forgiven me, so I will also forgive everyone who has sinned against me. Help me to both give and receive your forgiveness. Amen

Key Question…  Why is it critically important that you forgive others just as you have been forgiven?

Living It Out…  Forgive others who have sinned against you, just as your Heavenly Father has forgiven your sins against Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that your Heavenly Father will forgive all your sins just as you have also forgiven others.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how forgiving others has brought God’s healing into your life.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you forgive others just as your Heavenly Father has forgiven you.

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

Guidance – Day 42 – Matthew 6-14-15 – If You Forgive Others – 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

 

Hearer Of The Word

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - 365 Days Of Guidance - Day 41 - James 1:22-25 - Hearer Of The Word - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – 365 Days Of Guidance – Day 41 – James 1:22-25 – Hearer Of The Word – Growing As Disciples

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. James 1:22-25 (ESV)

Hearing And Doing

Do you want my blessing to be on your life? Do you want to live in the freedom that I have secured for you? Yes, of course I want your blessing to be on my life. Yes, I want to live in the freedom that you have secured for me. If you want to receive my blessing and live in my freedom there are two things that you must do without fail. What are they? What does my word tell you? You want me to hear your word. You want me to listen attentively to all that you have to say to me. You don’t want half-hearted listening or quick glances into your word on my part. No, I do not. You want me to look intently into your word. You want your word to be in my heart and on my mind continually. You want me to focus all my attention on your word. Yes, I do. Why do you think I want you to give attention to my word? Your word is how you will speak to me. Your word is the foundation of our relationship. The only way that I will come to know you is by listening to your word. That’s right.

If you want to receive my blessing and live in the freedom that I have secured for you what else must you do? I must put your word into practice. How will you begin to put my word into practice? I will start putting your word into practice by listening attentively to your word. As I listen to your word, you will change my heart and transform my mind. Yes, I will. Listening to your word will change the thoughts of my mind, and the desires of my heart. That’s true. As I continue to listen attentively to your word it will become my joy and desire to know your will and walk in your ways. It will be no burden for me to follow and obey you. It will be no heavy task to put your word into practice. It will be the desire of my heart to live my live fully and completely for you. How do you know this to be true? It is now my desire to do whatever pleases you. I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I am receiving your blessings and living in your freedom. Yes, you are. Thank you, Lord.

 Lord, I will not allow myself to be fooled. I will both hear and do your word. I will listen attentively to all that you have to say to me. I will remember to put into practice all that you have to teach me. I will live in all the freedom that your word will give to me. Amen

Key Question…  When have you recently put something into practice that you heard from God’s word?

Living It Out…  Listen attentively to God’s word so you will be able put it into practice as you follow Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will bless your life as you listen to and put His word into practice.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God has blessed your life as you have heard and done His word.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you be both a hearer and doer of God’s word.

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

365 Days Of Guidance – Day 41 – James 1-22-25 – Hearer Of The Word – 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