Tag Archives: holding fast to the word of life

Holding Fast

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - God's Word - Philippians 2:14-16 - Holding Fast - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God’s Word – Philippians 2:14-16 – Holding Fast – Growing As Disciples

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Philippians 2:14-16 (ESV)

Shine Like A Light

That is exactly what I want to do. What’s that? I want to shine like a light in the world. I want my life to be a testimony for you. I don’t want anything to blemish my witness for you. That is a very good desire. What might hinder your testimony and witness for me in the world? If I were no different than anyone else in this crooked and twisted generation, then my life would offer no testimony or witness for you. No, it would not. Are there any behaviors that you want to be particularly on guard against right now? Yes, I don’t want to be a grumbler or a complainer or a disputer. Those are dangerous attitudes for me to hold. Those attitudes provide a direct threat to my ability to be a witness and testimony for you in the world. Yes, they do. Beyond that, you are not pleased with grumbling and complaining and disputing. No, I am not. You have called me to be grateful and thankful. You desire that I bring peace and harmony wherever I go, in whatever I do. Yes, I do.

How will you be able to stop being a grumbler or complainer or a disputer? Not, with my own strength and abilities, that is for sure. I will need you to change the attitudes of my heart and the thoughts of my mind. How do you think I will change the attitudes of your heart and the thoughts of your mind? What tool will I use to change the attitudes of your heart and the thoughts of you mind? You will use your word to change the attitudes of my heart and the thoughts of my mind. As I hold fast to your word I will be changed. You will use your word to change my heart and transform my mind. Yes, I will.

How will you hold fast to my word? I will keep your word ever before me. I will meditate on your word day and night. I will hide your word in my heart, so I will not sin against you. I will let your word dwell in me richly. That will be very good.

What will be assured when you hold fast to my word? As I continue to hold fast to your word, I can be sure that my labor for you will never be in vain. As I continue to hold fast to your word, I can be positive that I will run well the race that you have set before me. Yes, you can. Will you keep on holding fast to my word? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. Then you will shine for me like a light in the world.

Lord, every day I will hold fast to your word. I will allow your word to change the attitude of my heart and thoughts of my mind. I will not grumble or complain so I can be an unblemished light for you in the world. Help me to run well and labor fruitfully for you. Amen 

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

God’s Word – Philippians 2-14 -16 – Holding Fast – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Without Complaining

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Discipleship - Philippians 2:14-16 - Without Complaining - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Discipleship – Philippians 2:14-16 – Without Complaining – Growing As Disciples

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Philippians 2:14-16 (ESV)

Shine Brightly

Do you want to shine as a bright light in the world for me? Do you want people to be drawn to you? Would you like the opportunity to hold out the word of life to those who do not know me? Would you like to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name? Yes, to all the above. I want to shine like a bright light in the world so that people will be drawn to you. I want them to see that you are living in and through my life. I want to bring attention to you. I want to bring glory to your name. Yes, I want to bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom. I don’t want my life to be about anything less than that. I want my life to have counted for all eternity. I do not want to someday find out that I lived my life in vain. I want you to lead me. I want you to guide me. I want you to use me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. That’s what I knew you would say. That is what I am glad to hear you say. I’m glad this subject has been exhausted. Your questions and been asked and answered. Not yet. Not quite. Not so fast. We have more to talk about. Like what?

There is a major threat to your life being a bright witness for me in the world. There is something that you need to think about deeply. What’s that? You like to argue. You like to complain. That would be true. I have made arguing and complaining something close to a hobby of mine. If you want to shine brightly in the world for me that will need to stop. Why is that? You’ve seen plenty of arguers and complainers. Yes, I have. So, you would say that arguing and complaining is common place in the world? Yes, I would. How attractive are the people that argue and complain? How interested are you in being in the company of someone who is constantly arguing and complaining? I see where this headed. Tell me where this is headed. Arguing and complaining will tarnish and diminish my witness for you in the world. Arguing and complaining will make it impossible for me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. That’s right. You got it. Will you stop arguing and complaining so you can hold out the word of life to others who do not know me? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. That is how I want to use you.

Lord, I have done plenty of arguing and complaining.  I never gave it any thought that all my arguing and complaining might tarnish or diminish my witness for you in the world. Forgive me. Help me now, to hold out the word of life to those who do not know you. Amen

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

Gratitude – Philippians 2-14-16 – Without Complaining – 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