real life. real relationships. real purpose. in writing.
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Take some time today to journal and reflect on the following questions:
In what ways have you seen God at work within you this week? Within your family? Within others you may interact with?
In what ways have you resisted God’s work within you this week?
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When Peter first set out to preach the gospel, the Scriptures tell us that 3,000 people came to faith in Christ (see Acts 2:41). He probably didn’t have any idea what was about to happen, but as Christianity continued to spread people began to expect the unexpected.
As we go out to make disciples, we read these kinds of stories and may dream of reaching thousands of people with the gospel, or we may dream of having that one friend or family member cross the line of faith.
Sometimes, these dreams may be fulfilled quickly. You may share the gospel and your story of transformation with somebody else and God may be working deep beneath the surface in their life in ways you weren’t aware. After sharing your story, they place their faith and trust in Christ.
Other times, you may share your story only to have your friend turn away. In these moments, don’t be too discouraged or hard on yourself. Instead, continue to keep them in your prayers. Keep planting and watering seeds, and allow God to take care of the growth in their life.
READING & PRAYERS:
1 CORINTHIANS 3:6-9 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: Can you think of some other ways to expect the unexpected when it comes to making disciples?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you overcommitting?Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I know it’s impossible to know with 100% certainty what will happen when I set out to make disciples of all nations. Because of this, may I set out with the confidence that You are the one ultimately at work. I may plant or water a seed, but You are the one who makes it grow. May I rest in this truth today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Romans 10:15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
Some followers of Jesus are passionate about the prospect of making disciples. So much so that they’re willing to jump into the deep end and go to the ends of the earth.
We may read their stories and feel inspired by their courage to live in a third world nation among the poor and destitute to share the message of Jesus with others.
But being inspired by what somebody else does may not lead to transformation within us. We may feel inspired by what somebody else is doing, but still be fearful to walk across the room we’re in and start up a conversation with a colleague. For reasons we may not fully understand, we may be fearful to share an encouraging story, or even to ask somebody if we can pray for them.
But in the end, God has chosen you (and me) and make disciples. Despite a world population of 8 billion people, He had a desire, a plan, and a purpose for you. What a privilege to have opportunities to share His story with others!
READING & PRAYERS:
ROMANS 10:15 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: You may not work full time for a local church, but you are in full time ministry. How may God be inviting you to reflect His love and grace upon somebody today?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you overcommitting?Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times when I have thought it should be somebody else’s role to make disciples. While there may be others who are more gifted in Evangelism, You have still chosen me to be part of Your grand story. May I not disregard this privilege. Instead, may I completely embrace it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Let’s face it, making disciples isn’t an easy task. Jesus initially told eleven men to make disciples of all nations. Imagine what thoughts went through their mind. What an enormous task!
At any time, some of them could have had this Unhealthy Thought: God doesn’t want me to make disciples. Somebody else is much more qualified.
But listen up, because this is important — they were perfectly qualified to tell others the story of God, to share the good news of Jesus, and to share their own life story of transformation.
Admittedly, you may struggle with the same unhealthy thought. Surely somebody else is much more qualified! But in the end, all who have professed faith in Christ are qualified when it comes to making disciples. Think differently with this Healthy Thought: God has given me my own story of transformation to share with others around me.
READING & PRAYERS:
1 PETER 2:9 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: What is one part of your story of transformation you can be ready to share with others at any time?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you overcommitting?Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, today has been an excellent reminder that if I don’t feel prepared to share a part of my story of transformation, I probably haven’t been spending enough time meditating on how much transformation You are currently doing within me. Because every time I do take opportunities to dwell on Your transforming power, I’m amazed at just how much You have done in and through me. May I enter into the remainder of my day ready to share the wonders of Your love and grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Slowly read the above verse again, allow the words to root themselves more deeply into your heart and soul. Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Other translations read, …by the renewing of your mind.
Each translation is communicating the same principle: we are transformed by changing the way we think.
Unfortunately, we all have unhealthy thoughts which are in need of real transformation. When it comes to being a disciple of Jesus, we may be tempted to think this Unhealthy Thought: I don’t know what it looks like to be a disciple.
Maybe being a disciple isn’t regularly on your mind. Or maybe you just haven’t sought out an answer as to what it looks like. But thinking you don’t know what it looks like to be a disciple won’t lead to real transformation. Instead, begin to think differently about being a disciple. Remember this Healthy Thought: The primary goal of the Christian life is to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did.
READING & PRAYERS:
MATTHEW 28:19-20, ACTS 1:8, ROMANS 12:2 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: How may God be inviting you to be with Jesus and become more like Jesus today?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you overcommitting?Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, today I’m grateful for the reminder of just how important it is for me to focus on my own discipleship. While I don’t know what all this week may bring, I pray that I will be intentional in taking opportunities to be with Jesus, would grow in wisdom and discernment of how to become more like Jesus, and that You will continue to mold and shape me into someone who will live like Jesus. Amen.
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Take some time today to journal and reflect on the following questions:
In what ways have you seen God at work within you this week? Within your family? Within others you may interact with?
In what ways have you resisted God’s work within you this week?
Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3, 5 or 10 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.
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Matthew 1:23b, 28:20b “Look! The virgin will conceive a child She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’
”“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
It’s noteworthy that the Gospel of Matthew begins and ends with this theme of God with us. Jesus came from heaven to Earth – God with us. Jesus leaves Earth to return to His heavenly Father, yet He still promised, “I am with you always.”
What a promise! God has been with us, is currently with us, and will always continue to be with us.
To be a follower of Jesus is to recognize that God is with us – always. Some may be able to think back on their past and point to specific moments in which they could see God working in their life. But how would you respond if somebody asked you, What is at least one way God working in your life right now? If you can answer this question without hesitation – great! But if you feel alone, afraid, confused, and cannot see how God is working in your life, be sure to let Him know. He just may reveal His presence in a powerful way.
READING & PRAYERS:
PSALM 139 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: What is one way God is present and working in your life right now? Be specific.
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you overcommitting? Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess there are days when I am confused and hurting and am questioning, Where is God in the midst of all this? And I know I am not alone, David and others often prayed similar prayers throughout the Psalms, yet continued to worship and praise You through it all. They knew You were with them even when their lives were turned upside down. Today, may I rest in this truth – You are with me, always. May this truth permeate deep into my soul. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Matthew 28:20 “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.”
Take a moment to think back on your childhood. How did your family of origin respond to difficult emotions such as fear, grief, sadness, anger, and others?
Many answer this question with responses such as: “I was always taught, ‘Don’t let other people see you hurting. Stuff those emotions and put on a good face.’” Or, “My family didn’t do grief, sadness, or anger. We just had to figure things out on our own.” Or, “Passive aggressive was the mantra of my family. It was always clear when somebody was feeling grief, sadness, or anger, but it was only expressed through passive aggressive behavior.”
What does this have to do with the Scripture verse quoted above? The answer is…everything. You see, Jesus taught a lot of things to His disciples. But they also caught a lot from Him. He modeled a life rooted not only in moral behavior, but in accepting and processing difficult emotions well. To be a disciple maker requires followers of Jesus to teach and model Jesus’ teachings and what He modeled through His actions.
READING & PRAYERS:
MATTHEW 21:12-13, 23:37-39, 26:36-44 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: How well do you pay attention to how Jesus responds to difficult emotions such as fear, grief, sadness, anger, and/or others? What would it look like for you to respond to difficult emotions as He did?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you overcommitting?Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess there are many times when I respond to difficult emotions in an unhealthy way; times when I have wrongfully believed that passive-aggressive behavior was some form of being a peacemaker. How foolish I have been! Thank You for sending Jesus to not only teach, but to model what it looks like to live in the tension of difficult emotions. Continue to help me grow and respond to these emotions in a godly way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Matthew 28:18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.”
How was Jesus able to give His disciples the instruction to go and make disciples? Simple. He had all authority in heaven and on earth.
Interestingly, this is not the first time the Gospel of Matthew mentions Jesus’ authority.
As you read today, consider this: To be a follower of Jesus is to submit to His authority in every area of your life. Not in fear or trepidation, but as a response to His loving desire to shape you into the person He has made you to be.
READING & PRAYERS:
MATTHEW 28:16-20 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: Is there anything in your life you’re holding onto, unwilling to surrender to His authority? What steps can you take to surrender this area of your life over to Him so that He may further shape you into the person He made you to be?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you overcommitting?Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess there are areas of my life in which I have attempted to keep hidden from You. Like Adam and Eve in the garden, I’ve given into shame and have tried to hide my unhealthy decisions from You. Today, I’m grateful for the reminder that I do need to hide from You in shame, but am free to come to You so You may continue to mold and shape me into the person You’ve made me to be. Thank You for your loving grace! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Matthew 28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The NLT Life Application Study Bible points out, “When somebody is dying or leaving us, his or her last words are very important. Jesus left the disciples with these last words of instruction: They were under his authority; they were to make more disciples; they were to baptize and teach these new disciples to obey his words; and he would be with them always.”
It’s hard to imagine what may have been going through the minds of His disciples when Jesus offered these last words. They had given up their lives to follow Jesus for three years. They witnessed Him teach, heal, pray, and perform miracles countless times. They saw Him die on the cross. Peter denied ever knowing Jesus. And then they saw Him resurrected from the dead. After all of that, they were ready to hear Jesus’ last words, and they were ready to fulfill His desires.
As you read today, consider this: To be a follower of Jesus is to be ready to be a disciple so you can go out an make disciples.
READING & PRAYERS:
MATTHEW 28:16-20 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: What is your current understanding of what it means for you to be a disciple of Jesus?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you overcommitting?Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, today I’m simply grateful for the reminder that I need to be a disciple in order to make disciples. Continue to reveal ways I can grow in being an apprentice of Jesus, learning directly from Him so I may grow more in Christlikeness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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