TODAY'S STEPS READ: Luke 8:4-15 REFLECT: How does the Seed produce fruit in our lives? What qualities must the soil possess? RESPOND: 1 - Identify 2 consistent tests to your faith that threaten your ability to remain rooted in God's love. 2 - How can God use these tests to drive you into a deeper relationship with Him? *Share your thoughts on Comments. "The same sun that melts wax hardens clay." (Puritans)
REFLECT: What does it mean to "run with endurance?"
RESPOND: Identify the greatest example of spiritual endurance you have personally witnessed.
*Share your example on Comments.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by
so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and
sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that
is set before us"
#1 - Write a prayer of praise that is inspired by the words of this passage. Make it personal to you.
#2 - Reflect on the last 24 hours. How did the Lord work in your personal life, your professional/academic life, and your relationships?
STUDY
Today - make a decision to stick to a commitment you have made. Write it down.
*Share your experience on Comments.
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"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,”a and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature."
#1 - Write a prayer of praise that is inspired by the words of this passage. Make it personal to you.
#2 - Reflect on the last 24 hours. How did the Lord work in your personal life, your professional/academic life, and your relationships?
STUDY
How has God taught you "PERSEVERANCE" in the past 24 hours?
*Share your example on Comments.
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"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."
#1 - Write a prayer of praise that is inspired by the words of this passage. Make it personal to you.
#2 - Reflect on the last 24 hours. How did the Lord work in your personal life, your professional/academic life, and your relationships?
STUDY
Describe a time in your life when God taught you "PERSEVERANCE." How did He teach you? Has the lesson stayed with you?
*Share your example on Comments.
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"I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you. 23 You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help."
#1 - Write a prayer of praise that is inspired by the words of this passage. Make it personal to you.
#2 - Reflect on the last 24 hours. How did the Lord work in your personal life, your professional/academic life, and your relationships?
STUDY
Identify and describe a powerful example of PERSEVERANCE.
*Share your example on Comments.
"And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."
#1 - Write a prayer of praise that is inspired by the words of this passage. Make it personal to you.
#2 - Reflect on the last 24 hours. How did the Lord work in your personal life, your professional/academic life, and your relationships?
STUDY
Define the term and concept of "PERSEVERANCE."
*Share your definition and thoughts on Comments.
"All my enemies whisper together against me; they imagine the worst for me, saying, 8 “A vile disease has beset him; he will never get up from the place where he lies.” 9 Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
10 But you, O Lord, have mercy on me; raise me up, that I may repay them. 11 I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me. 12 In my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever. 13 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen."
