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What on Earth Am I Here For?
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Tuesday, September 30, 2003
My Prayer Today
Dear Jesus, I thank you for your example to me of what it really means to be holy and righteous. I admit Lord that I am weak. Sometimes I want to do the right things, but my own strength always fails me. I ask that you would give me the grace to be a person that follows hard after you. I want to grow in your love and learn what it means to be your disciple. I commit myself to walking in your ways and spending time around other people who will do the same. Build me, shape me, and mold me into what you have created me to be. And I ask this in confidence that your Holy Spirit will help my weaknesses and bring me to spiritual maturity. I pray this all in your name, Amen.
Bible Verses
Matthew 26:39-41
39 "Going a little farther, he (Jesus) fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
Reflecting on Discipleship
Read Hebrews 2:10-11, 17-18 again:
1. According to verse 11, what is the common attribute of those who are part of the family of God?
2. Is there any way in which Jesus cannot identify with his family? Why?
3. If Jesus was tempted, should we expect temptation? In what ways does Jesus work through his family to help us overcome temptation?
Exploring Discipleship
Discipleship is something that is vitally important for our spiritual growth. What steps are you taking toward being a mature follower of Jesus?
Someone once said that people will either: "add, subtract, multiply, or divide" you. This is true. For people have the potential to do all of these things. Part of discipleship is finding the right persons who can "add" and "multiply" us in our walk with Jesus.
What are the people you are closest to, doing in your life?
What would happen if you sought to be around people today that would add and multiply you in Jesus?
Likewise, what would happen if you sought to be those things for others?
Understanding Discipleship and My Purpose
All churches that are seriously concerned about following the "Great Commission" in Matthew 26:18-20 -- to go and make disciples of all nations. . . to baptize and teach them to obey the words of Jesus (paraphrase), must be serious not only about reaching out to people and seeing them come to faith in Christ, but also about the second portion of this Great Commission -- discipleship. There are many churches who welcome new people and go to great lengths to see them become Christians through faith in Jesus, but do very little about seeing these same persons grow in their walk with Jesus. Discipleship is the process by which we as Christians learn to obey what Jesus has taught through his word. Jesus made a large investment with his time and resources in the twelve disciples that he chose. Likewise, the process of discipleship within our own lives takes time, resources, and commitment. In Matthew 26:39-41 we read of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane praying late into the night with great anguish because of what was soon to come through suffering and dying on a cross. We see his absolute submission to the will of his Father, even in the face of such anguish. When Jesus returned to his disciples, he found them sleeping because it was late at night and they were very tired. He commands them in verse 41 to, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Jesus knew that temptation would come upon his disciples, so he tells them to "watch" and "pray" because if they rely upon their natural strength they will fail, even if they have the desire to do what is right. The essence of discipleship therefore is the work not of natural strength, but of the Spirit of God to enable and empower us to do what Jesus has asked of us. Just as the disciples could not do it without God's strength, so we cannot either. "Watching" and "praying" was something that was necessary in the disciples' lives because of what they were about to face. Likewise, we as followers of Jesus must always be ready and spiritually strong to face the times in which we live. Discipleship is the process by which we spiritually mature so that we are ready for what comes before us. This can only happen as we are committed, by God's grace, to spiritual growth through daily Bible reading, prayer, worship, evangelism, fellowship, ministry, and learning the deep truths of the Bible as we attend church and listen to sermons and teaching. The fact that we are "saved" from our sin through Jesus is just the beginning! We are now called to growth in Jesus through discipleship.
Applying Discipleship to My Daily Life
God desires us to grow! We cannot grow unless we are committed to cultivating proper ingredients that are necessary for our spiritual growth. Just as a plant cannot grow unless it has enough sunlight, water, and the proper soil, so we must commit ourselves to discipleship. There are many ways in which discipleship can happen, but it always involves the impartation of God's Spirit through his Word (the Bible), through worship, through prayer, and through being around other people who are spiritually mature themselves. This is why attending a healthy and vibrant church is so important. If there is one particular area of the things just listed, that you know you have not been committed to, what would it be? What is one way in which you can cultivate this in your life? Pray and ask God that he would give you the grace to grow in the area you selected and be a mature disciple in every way!
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