All of Scripture reveals that God invites men to partner with Him in His plan to redeem areas of our world rendered unfruitful. It’s easy to succumb to the overwhelming scriptural evidence of this principle. It’s not always easy to live it out on a daily basis. Yet if we truly intend to follow Jesus’ example, we must become intentional about pursuing the same calling that He did. That begins with repentance—not just feeling sorrow, but actually changing Those words came from John the Baptist, who then suggested some very specific lifestyle changes that would demonstrate heart changes. You can read about that in Luke 3:7-14. I challenge you to prayerfully ask God what is distracting you or hindering you from fulfilling His purpose. I challenge you to ask God to write His desires on your heart. Ask Him to give you a new love for Him, and new vision for what He wants to see in your life. WEEK Week 1 19 Monday—October 9•Repentance Produce fruit in keeping with repentance... (Luke 3:8) our behavior. Today’s Scripture, for instance, calls us to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Read Luke 3:7–14. What do you notice about the suggestions that John the Baptist gives to those around him? How do his suggestions reflect fruitfulness? What suggestions do you think John the Baptist would give to you? Daily Reading: Jeremiah 12:1–14:10, 1 Thessalonians 1:1–2:8, Psalm 79:1–13, Proverbs 24:30–34 Tuesday—October 10•Discipline Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Philippians 2:12–13) In his letter to the Philippians, Paul noted that God works to change us from the inside out. But Paul also called Christians to “work out your salvation.” This requires effort and discipline. My son was a really good athlete. When he was a kid playing baseball, he’d tell me something he wanted to accomplish. “I’m going to hit five home runs this year.” Or perhaps, “I’m going to make that specific team.” So I’d say, “That’s great! How are you going to prepare so you can see it happen?” He didn’t practice any more diligently. He wanted to enjoy the rewards of advanced skill without expending advanced effort. That’s understandable in a 12-year-old boy, but not so much in a 35-year-old man. We need to discipline ourselves to put aside our distractions and concentrate on the things to which God has called us. If we’re not spending time in Scripture or praying or spending adequate time with our families, or whatever is the issue, we need to quit offering excuses and start disciplining ourselves for fruitfulness. WEEK Week 1 Name one area of your life that could increase in fruitfulness if you applied more discipline. What disciplines are needed? How will you apply them? What result do you anticipate? Daily Reading: Jeremiah 14:11–16:15, 1 Thessalonians 2:9–3:13, Psalm 80:1–19, Proverbs 25:1–5
20514 Man in Mirror
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