Tag Archives: so that you may become blameless and pure

Hold Out The Word Of Life

Posted on by
Reply
The Sacramental Life - Day 331 - Philippians 2:14-18 - Hold Out The Word Of Life - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 331 – Philippians 2:14-18 – Hold Out The Word Of Life – 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.  But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.  So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. Philippians 2:14-18 (NIV)

Shine Like A Star In The Universe

Could that be true of me? Is that even possible? Could what be true of you? Could what be possible? Could I shine like a star in the universe? Now, before you answer me, I want to make a few things clear. I’m listening. I do not want to be a star in the universe for my own glory. This is not some prideful desire on my part. I have no desire to gain the applause of the world or to stand out and be noticed by others. I understand what you are saying. It is good that you are aware of the prideful possibilities that could accompany this desire in you. But do not miss the key points. What are the key points? I want you to shine like a star in the universe for me. I am asking you to shine like a star in the universe for me. I want you to stand out and be noticed. I want people to wonder why you are so different. I want people to be drawn to you. I want people to ask questions about you. I want people to clearly see that my life is being lived out in and through you. I want to use your life so that others can be drawn to me. I want to use your life so that others will come to know and love and follow and serve me. I want to use your life to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. Is this all clear to you? Do you understand everything that I am saying to you? Yes, I do. That is very good.

But there are other key points to go over. You have my full attention. When I ask something of you, will I not also make it possible for you to accomplish what I have asked of you? How so? If I say, “I want you to shine like a star in the universe”, will I not help you to shine like a star in the universe for me? If I say, I don’t want you to be tarnished by arguing or complaining or any other darkness that is in the world, will I not help you to live a pure and blameless life?” Yes, you will make me able to do whatever you ask of me. That is correct. You got that right. Never have any doubt, I will always make you to do whatever I ask of you.

There is one more final key point I want to make with you now. I’m still listening. When I ask you to do something for me, will I not also fan the flame of desire in you, to do what I ask of you? Yes, you will. You have something you want to say. I have noticed that you fanned the flame of godly desires in me. That does not mean I will not have to overcome fleshly, sinful, or worldly desires that wage war against me. That is true. In those battles, draw near to me. I will strengthen you. I will fan the flame of godly desires in you. I will make you able to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans. I will make you able to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. You will shine like a star in the universe for me. Thank you, Lord

Lord, I will not be an arguer or complainer. I will not allow myself to be tarnished by the world’s darkness. Help me to shine like a star in the universe for your glory. Help me to be a bold, bright and powerful witness for you. Use me to bear fruit for your kingdom. Amen

Key Question…  Why will those who helped you to come to know Christ be able to boast about your witness for Him?

Living It Out…  Allow the Lord to make you shine like a star in the universe as you hold Him out to others.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to shine like a star in the universe as you hold Him out to others.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group what prayers you are now regularly praying to the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is helping you to shine as you hold Him out to others.

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

The Sacramental Life – Day 331 – Philippians 2-14-18 – Hold Out The Word Of Life – 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                                                                                    http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Word Of Life

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Life - Philippians 2:14-16 - Word Of Life - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life – Philippians 2:14-16 – Word Of Life – 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)

 Shine Like Stars

What will happen if you become known as someone who is always complaining, whining or arguing about something? People will ignore me. They won’t listen to a word that I have to say. Is that all? No, they will want to distance themselves from me. No one likes to hang around someone that is always complaining, whining or arguing about something. So, you won’t be very popular? No, I wouldn’t be. Is that really the worst that could happen? No, it’s not. Complainers, whiners, and arguers often find themselves under the attack of criticism from others. I have found that you get back what you give out. You reap what you sow? Yes, that’s it exactly. That would be really uncomfortable. Yes, it would be. But, its still not the worst thing that could happen is it? What could be worse than that?

Let me ask you a few questions. Go ahead, I’m listening. Who are you? Who have a called you to be? What have I asked you to do? You have called me to be a pure child of God. Yes, that’s right. Is there anything pure about being a complainer who whines and argues all the time? No, there is not. So, one of the worst things about being a whiner, arguer, or complainer would be what? If I were a whiner, arguer or complainer then I would not be living out my calling as a pure child of God. That’s right. How big a deal is that? That would be unthinkable. I want to live out my calling as a pure child of yours. Yes, I know, so you will do what? I will do whatever you have given me to do in life without whining, complaining or arguing. That’s great. 

What will happen when you do the work I have given to you without complaining, whining or arguing? I’m not sure what you mean. We have talked about the worst that could happen. Yes. Well, what is the best thing that could happen if you live as a pure child of God? I would be attractive to others. They would be drawn to me. They would wonder why I was living so different from most of the people they know. The world is full of whiners, complainers and arguers. Yes, it is. I would shine like a bright star in this dark world. Yes, that’s it exactly.

As you shine like a bright star in the universe what will you be able to hold out to those who are drawn to you? I will be able to hold out you. You are the word of life. You are my Savior and Lord. Yes, I am. People wouldn’t really be drawn to me. It is you living in and through my life that would draw others to you. But, I would be using you. Your life would speak out for me. Your words would explain the life that others could have in me. Yes, and then they would want to give themselves to you. They would want the same life that I have in you. Yes, they would.

When people give themselves to me because of the testimony of your words and your life will that be valuable and important? I know of nothing that would be more valuable and more important in life than to see others coming to you because of how you were able to use my life. Then your life would have been well used and well spent? Yes, definitely. You would not have labored or run the race of your life in vain? Certainly not, my life would have been well used by you. That’s right.

Lord, thank you for calling me to live as your pure child of God. Keep complaining, whining and arguing far from me. Help me to shine like a bright star in the universe. Use my life as a vibrant witness for you as I hold out the word of life to others. Amen

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

Life – 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

Blameless And Pure

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - So That - Philippians 2:14-16 - Blameless And Pure- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – So That – Philippians 2:14-16 – Blameless And Pure- 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)

Just Do It

Just Do It. Now that’s a thought. What do you mean by that? You know exactly what I mean. Just do what I ask of you. Do you want to obey me? Will you do what I ask of you? Yes, I want to obey you. Yes, I will do what you ask of me. Why then do you grumble and complain and argue about what you have already agreed that you will do for me? Wouldn’t it be better if you just did what I asked of you without any hesitation? Wouldn’t it be best if you did what I asked of you without grumbling, complaining and arguing? Yes it would be best if I just did what you asked of me without any questions or indecision or internal debate on my part. Let me ask you a question. Go right ahead. Do you have more or less joy in serving me when you do something without question or when you reluctantly do what I ask of you? I don’t think that I have any joy at all when I reluctantly do something for you.

Let’s consider an example. I’m game. You know that I want you to come together with other believers to worship me. Yes, I know that you want me to go to church. That’s not exactly what I said but you have the idea. Why do you ask yourself each week if you are going to church? I’m not sure if I will be going to church or not. Isn’t that the same as saying I’m not sure if I will obey you or not. Yes, I suppose so. Most of the time you do gather with other believers to worship me. Yes, I do. But, many times you go reluctantly with an attitude of grumbling, complaining and arguing. That’s true. Wouldn’t you have more joy in gathering to worship me if you just decided once and for all that you were going to go to church every Sunday? Yes, I suppose that I would. Do you know why that is? No, I’m not sure. Grumbling, complaining and arguing are joy stealers. You will never feel complete joy in reluctantly doing what I ask of you. I get that.

How do you think I feel about grumbling, complaining and arguing? I’m pretty sure that you don’t like any of it. No, I don’t. Why do you think I don’t like grumbling, complaining and arguing? You didn’t create me to be a grumbler, complainer or arguer. No, I did not. Grumbling, complaining and arguing are the ways of the world. You want me to be different. You want me to stand out. You want me to be filled with joy. Yes, I do. When you are filled with my joy you will shine brightly like a star in the universe. When you grumble, complain and argue you will be living in the darkness of the world. I want to shine brightly for you. Then follow me and just do what I ask of you. Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, I am making a decision now about how I will respond in the future to difficult or unpleasant tasks. I am going to serve you willingly without grumbling, complaining or arguing. I give you permission to ask me to do whatever you want me to do for you. Amen

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

So That – Philippians 2-14-16 – Blameless And Pure – 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