Tag Archives: Discipleship

A Prayer Prompted by John 8

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Heavenly Father,

Help us to take an attitude toward sin and toward sinners much like the one that Jesus had.  Help us to demand repentance in ourselves, earnestly desire it in others, but help us to avoid condemning them, knowing that we ourselves have sinned. 

Cause us to always see Christ as the light of the world, so that we might walk in that light and not walk in darkness ever again. Make us Christ’s true disciples, people who would abide in your word and let your word abide in us.  Let that word transform us and help us to grow.

Since we know and understand that Jesus is truly God, we worship him, Father, even as we worship you.

We know that people’s eternity hangs in the balance and is decided on their response to Christ. Make us useful in the proclamation of the gospel, in calling children of the devil out of darkness, out of the bondage and slavery of sin, and into freedom, into the bright, clear vision of your marvelous light.

In Christ,

Amen 

Watch yourselves – Luke 21:34-36

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34 But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.

In a wider discussion about signs of the times and future things, Jesus turned his attention back to the present.  He knew that our interest in the future is not always correlated with vigilance in the present.  In fact, it can be used as a way to avoid it.

The person who is always looking just beyond the horizon can grow careless.  It doesn’t have to happen, but when attention is drawn to the “What if … ?” or “Is it maybe …?” we can lose sight of our current responsibilities.  

Character is inevitably developed in the present tense.  What we do today ripples into tomorrow in more ways than we can imagine.  Preparing for the future means doing something before the future gets here.  This was Christ’s concern for his disciples and it remains his concern for us.

If we become lax in our walk with Christ, in our disciplines, or in the little details of our spiritual life, the future will be here before we know it.  It will come quickly enough anyway, but it will seem even quicker for the one who is caught off guard.

Watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down …

Luke 14 – Verse by Verse

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Photo for Luke

This chapter starts with a miraculous healing.  Jesus then teaches us about following him.  His invitation is open to all, but those who accept it must be willing to place put Jesus before everyone or everything else and even their very lives.

Luke 14.pdf

Luke 14.mp3

Here is a link to the livestream video:  https://www.facebook.com/horizoncentral/videos/651452032317248/

A Prayer Prompted by Luke 14

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Dear Heavenly Father,

Let us begin by humbling ourselves before you and accepting the invitation that you give to any and all who are willing to come to you.  We need your grace for our salvation and beyond – to live this Christian life from day to day.

Further, we know that discipleship is costly, but we also remember that any price we might have to pay will be worth it in the end.  We bring no merit of our own to this commitment. Help us to serve you well and serve you faithfully – to take up our cross, remembering that our lives are not our own but that we belong to you.

Finally, we also remember you as our healer – the one who has all power over all sickness and disease.  For those who are sick and for those who are working on their behalf, we pray for your grace and extra amounts of help from you at this time.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.