From Believers to Disciples
Monday, May 14, 2007
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“Study to show yourself approved by God …” 2 Timothy 2:15a KJV
Prayer Focus for Today
Offer a prayer of thanksgiving for every mother who has shared the love of Jesus with their children, with others’ children, and with everyone in their spheres of influence to the glory of God!
Heavenly Father, I do thank You for the gift of mothers who share or shared the love of Jesus with their children, and who cared or cared enough to share that love with other children as well. On this Mother’s day, I thank You for Your design of families into the fabric of creation, and ask that by Your Holy Spirit You will empower Christian families everywhere to live with Your grace and commitment. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God’s Word Today
As we read God’s word this week, it will be from both the New Living Translation and the New International Version. We will look at one or two verses each day.
15So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. 16Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. 17Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. 19Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:15-20 NLT
15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:15-20 NIV
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
From Today’s Reading, a Believer …
In Ephesians 5:15, what doe we find that a believer does differently than a non-believer?
What are some specific examples of what it means to live as one who is wise?
Let’s Go Deeper in Our Walk with Jesus
What does Ephesians 5:15 tell us about going deeper in our walk with the Lord?
From Today’s Reading, a Disciple of Jesus Will …
Ephesians 5:15 challenges us not to live as fools but as those who are wise. The Bible tells us that the fear or respect of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Take some time right now, to praise God for who He is, and for His great majesty and power. Take the time to truly appreciate His awesome splendor and power, and as you meditate on these things, know that the beginning of all true wisdom is giving God the proper authority over Your life!
Ministry, Mission, Outreach, Service Opportunities to Consider
This week, the Youth Missions Team that will be carrying out Hurricane Relief in St. Bernard’s Parish Louisiana July 28-August 4, will start its training. Please remember the team in your prayers, and please lift up Missionary Bill Richardson of Cutting Edge Ministries who will be our leader for this experience. Prayer is the key that unlocks the resources of God as we serve in the name of Jesus. Pray that God will give the team unity of purpose, a bond of the Spirit, and that they will prepare for the trip by living boldly in Jesus’ name each day as they prepare!
My Journal
Note any thoughts from Through the Bible or the Daily Reading here:
Be Careful How You Live!
What amazingly practical advice! When we are careful how we live that means we live according to God’s plan for us. It doesn’t mean that we are afraid to do anything that may be “risky,” or that we live lives filled with worry and care. It means that we trust God completely, that we live with all care focused on Him and His word. Sometimes the world sees Christians as weak and retiring—and all too often we are. Living with wisdom, living careful lives in the Lord means that we will demonstrate the courage and boldness of the Holy Spirit in all our endeavors, that we will exhibit joy in our circumstances and that from our rising until we lie down at night we focus fully on Him! Such lives make a powerful testimony to the lost about the living God who desires all of us to trust Him!