Following My Example

The Virtuous Life - Day 219 - Philippians 3-17-21 - Follow My Example - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 219 – Philippians 3-17-21 – Follow My Example – 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.  For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.  But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Philippians 3:17-21 (NIV)

Examples To Follow

You have given me many examples to follow. What kind of examples have I given you to follow? You have given me many examples to follow of what it means and looks like to love and follow and serve you with all that is within me. You have allowed me to see others who have loved and followed and serve you with all their heart and mind and soul and strength. What did you observe? What did you come to understand? How did their examples show you the way? What stood out to you? I will tell you one thing. What’s that? I took lots of mental notes. That’s good, what did you note? I noted that those who lived passionately and powerfully as your followers were fully devoted to you. There were not half-hearted. They were not partially engaged. You were the full focus of their attention. They kept their heart and mind and life fixed on you. The world and all that it offers did not attract them. They were not allured by the treasures of this life. They knew that this life is temporary. They knew that this life is like a mirage. It is like a mist that will quickly fades away. It is like a snap of the fingers or a blink of an eye. They knew without a doubt that their true citizenship is in heaven with you. As they loved and followed and served you with all that was within them, they lived with the encouraging knowledge that one day you would make their lowly, and soon to be worn out bodies, to be like your glorious body. So, they lived for you. They lived to know and do your will. They lived to bear fruit for your kingdom. They lived to bring glory to your name. Is this the life you want to live? Will you follow the examples that I have set before you? This is the life I want to live. I want to live to know and do your will. My heart and mind and life will be focused on you. I will go and do whatever you ask of me. That will be very good. 

Lord, thank you for giving me many godly examples to follow. Others before me have shown me what it looks like to love, follow, and serve you with all my heart. I will follow their powerful examples. Help me to also live as a godly example for others to follow. Amen

Key Question…  How has the Lord given you examples of how to love and follow and serve Him?

Living It Out…  Follow the examples of loving, following, and serving the Lord that you have been given.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to follow the examples of loving, following, and serving Him you have been given.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how your life is serving as a godly example that others can follow.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you follow the example of loving, following, and serving Christ that you have been given.

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 219 – Philippians 3-17-21 – Following My Example – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

My Example

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

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