Staying On Track
Scripture – John 16:1-5: “All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you. “Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’
Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) Jesus calls us to live from an entirely different perspective than people who do not know Him. The values of His kingdom are nearly the total opposite of the values of our surrounding culture. Living from that perspective will sometimes put me into conflict with the culture. Sometimes it brings me into conflict with the church. With all the voices around me, how do stay tuned into Christ so I don’t go astray?
Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) It’s easier than I realize to get confused these days. The best reliable resource for direction I have is the Bible. That’s where God reveals Himself most consistently. I can’t be relying on my own conscience, my own sense of right and wrong or my own personal feelings. Those subjective experiences will sometimes illuminate truths I find in the Bible. I will be careful not to let them take precedence over them. I will keep reading and reflecting on God’s written word. I will shape my values around what I continue to discover there.
Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord, please keep me on your path today. If that leads me into conflict, give me your peace and patience. In all things, help me reflect your Spirit, your truth and your grace. Keep teaching me to hear you clearly and to follow you completely. That is my life goal.
An Invitation – If you’re interested in a face to face discussion about what we’ve been discovering in the Mini-Journal, a small group will be meeting tomorrow, 9:45 – 10:30am, at the Southgate Fun and Fitness Center (on Northline near I-75). Look for them around one of the tables in the Café area.
Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) Jesus calls us to live from an entirely different perspective than people who do not know Him. The values of His kingdom are nearly the total opposite of the values of our surrounding culture. Living from that perspective will sometimes put me into conflict with the culture. Sometimes it brings me into conflict with the church. With all the voices around me, how do stay tuned into Christ so I don’t go astray?
Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) It’s easier than I realize to get confused these days. The best reliable resource for direction I have is the Bible. That’s where God reveals Himself most consistently. I can’t be relying on my own conscience, my own sense of right and wrong or my own personal feelings. Those subjective experiences will sometimes illuminate truths I find in the Bible. I will be careful not to let them take precedence over them. I will keep reading and reflecting on God’s written word. I will shape my values around what I continue to discover there.
Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord, please keep me on your path today. If that leads me into conflict, give me your peace and patience. In all things, help me reflect your Spirit, your truth and your grace. Keep teaching me to hear you clearly and to follow you completely. That is my life goal.
An Invitation – If you’re interested in a face to face discussion about what we’ve been discovering in the Mini-Journal, a small group will be meeting tomorrow, 9:45 – 10:30am, at the Southgate Fun and Fitness Center (on Northline near I-75). Look for them around one of the tables in the Café area.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home