Discipline causes us to train and to “throw off everything that hinders” our forward movement. with God’s plan for our lives. But Hebrews 12 tells us our effort won’t simply require discipline. It will also require determination. sold him into slavery. Then he was accused of rape and imprisoned. Joseph persevered in spite of his setbacks, and even in prison he became a fruitful administrator. He was determined. He was faithful. By the end of his story, he ascended to a high level of authority in Egypt, he reconnected with his family, and he saved them all from starvation because of famine. Ultimately, we need to be determined to do whatever is necessary to keep our eyes on Jesus, so we can fight through any circumstances that tempt us to give up on God’s plan for us. WEEK Week 1 20 Wednesday—October 11•Determination ... let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. (Hebrews 12:1–2) That includes our sin, but it also includes seemingly harmless habits or desires that compete Think about the obstacles encountered by the Old Testament patriarch Joseph. His brothers How is determination different from discipline? Daily Reading: Jeremiah 16:16–18:23, 1 Thessalonians 4:1–5:3, Psalm 81:1–16, Proverbs 25:6–8 Thursday—October 12•Priorities “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29–31) A man can’t invest his time and energy, his hopes and dreams in the wrong things and then look to God to bring fruitfulness. A man who attends college football games and embarks on hunting trips with “the guys” 26 weekends a year shouldn’t wonder in five years why his wife and kids don’t want much to do with him. Our culture will try to blind us to the things God values. I met a man who is an entrepreneur. He works from home, so he’s decided to adjust his schedule so he can exercise with his three young boys every morning. “The thing I really want them to know,” he said, “is that I’m going to be with them, and that I care for them.” He’s communicating his priorities with his words, but also with his actions. Obviously, some of us have jobs that won’t allow this specific application. But we can ask for God’s wisdom to align our priorities with His, and for His creativity in how to apply those priorities within the context of our own lives. WEEK Week 1 Take some time to consider the way you prioritize your time and money. How are you communicating your priorities both in words and in actions? Does your list reflect that you are prioritizing God’s way or man’s way? Daily Reading: Jeremiah 19:1–21:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:4–28, Psalm 82:1–8, Proverbs 25:9–10
20514 Man in Mirror
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