Tag Archives: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Those Who Are Persecuted

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 208 - Matthew 5:10 - Those Who Are Persecuted - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 208 – Matthew 5:10 – Those Who Are Persecuted – Growing As Disciples

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10 (NIV)

Witness

I want to be your witness in the world. I want the faith that I have in you to stand out from the darkness of this world. I want to shine brightly as a light in the world. I want others to be able to see and recognize that your life is being lived out in and through me. Those are all very good desires that you have within you. As you love and follow and serve me, you will shine brightly for me. I will powerfully use you as my witness in the world. Others will be drawn to me because my life is being lived out in and through you. The righteousness you have in me will boldly stand out in the darkness of this world. For that, I am thankful beyond words. I can think of nothing more that I want than to be used by you. That is very good.

What can you expect as the righteousness you have in me boldly and brightly stands out in the darkness of this world? I can expect to be verbally abused and mocked because of the faith I have in you. I can expect to be ostracized, treated harshly and even persecuted because I am your follower. I can expect to be slandered, cursed at and even lied about because I will be living the new life that you have called me to live. All of these things happened to you. I should not be surprised when any of these things happen to me. The darkness of this world does not like the light I have in you. The sinfulness of this world does not and cannot accept the righteousness I have in you. No, it does not. No, it cannot. Yes, my life will live in and through you. Yes, you will shine brightly for me in the darkness of this world. For that, you will be persecuted.

Will you be disappointed when you are rejected? Will you be discouraged when you are persecuted? Will you be depressed when you are mistreated? No, I will not, not for one minute, not even for one second. Why is that? I will know that your word is true. I will know that I have been forewarned. I will know that I am being treated as you were treated. I will know that it is your righteousness being lived out, in and through me that is being rejected. I will know that I am truly living the life that you have called me to live. The more light I have in you, the more the darkness of the world will come against me. In those moments, I know that you will be with me to help me. You will guard and guide me. You will lead me through the darkness of this world as I love, follow and serve you. Yes, I will. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I am thankful for the new life I have in you. You have made me righteous. You have forgiven and cleansed my sins. You are using me as your witness in the darkness of this world. I joyfully anticipate that I will be persecuted because I am your follower. Amen

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

Day 208 – Becoming Like Christ – Matthew 5-10 – Those Who Are Persecuted – 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

Poor In Spirit

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 201 - Matthew 5:3 - Poor In Spirit - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 201 – Matthew 5:3 – Poor In Spirit – Growing As Disciples

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 (NIV)

Spiritual Poverty

Nothing is more certain. Nothing is surer of being true. What is that? Apart from you, I live in spiritual poverty. Apart from you, I am a spiritual pauper. That is a very important discovery. That is a very important acknowledgement. I know that to be true, without a doubt. Why is that? It was the discovery and acknowledgment of my spiritual poverty that led me to you. I did not know why I felt empty. I did not know why I felt no hope and meaning in life. I did not know why I had no purpose and direction in life. I just knew that I was living a bruised and battered and broken life. I was certainly living and walking on a path that led away from you. There is no doubt that I was living a life that was not good and right and pleasing to you. I was weary and worn out. I was desperate for something more or different. I wanted something else. What that was, I did not know. If someone would have told me that I was poor in spirit, they would have received no argument from me. That’s good.

What happened to you? You are asking me that question? Yes, I am. You happened to me. You would not let me go. You rescued me from a life without you. You heard my poverty filled cry. I asked you to show yourself to me. I asked you to come into my life. I asked you to be my Savior and Lord. Not that I get any credit for crying out to you. It was you who drew me to yourself. It was you that made me able to see and acknowledge my spiritual poverty. It was you who forgave my sin and cleansed my unrighteousness. It was you who has enabled me to live in a vibrant and intimate relationship with you. I love you now, because your first loved me. You adopted me into your family and made me your own. Yes, I have done all these things in you and for you. For that, I am thankful beyond words. That is very good.

What do you know now? I know that apart from you, I will always live in spiritual poverty. I know that living in a vibrant and intimate relationship with you will bring your blessings into my life. You will guard and guide me. You will lead and direct me. You will use me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. You will allow me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. You will bless my life as I love, follow and serve you. Nothing will ever be better than living my life with and for you. That is true. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I know that, apart from you, I live in spiritual poverty. I know that I need to come to rely on you for all my spiritual needs. I know that you will revive, refresh, restore and bless my spiritual life as I live in a vibrant and intimate relationship with you. Amen

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 201 – Matthew 5-3 – Poor In Spirit – 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