Discipleship Point
We continue our learning about following Jesus through snippets from Hope’s covenant with Jesus.
Discipleship Point taken from the Disciple’s Covenant with Jesus:
Personal goals as I follow Jesus, part two: In a desire to be someone "always ready to share the reason for the hope that I have in Christ Jesus" (1 Peter 3:15), I am willing to set goals to be intentional about my life of following Jesus, including being intentional about connecting with others so that I can be used by God to reach out to them in love. These people can be Christians or not. To this end, I am also willing to yield to the Spirit’s desires consistently as I learn them from God’s Word.
Discipleship Prayer
Lord Jesus, even through persecution the Gospel message continues to move into hundreds of tribes and nations. Rather than pray off persecution and suffering, I pray for Your people to stand up under it. Not just me, but especially my brothers and sisters in the world. Embolden us all to testify of the love and life You bring to this world. Let our hearts reflect Your heart. Let our lives reflect Your life. Amen.
The image is a map of the areas of the world in which Christians are persecuted. Areas in red experience extreme persecution. Orange areas have very high levels of persecution. Yellow areas have high levels of persecution. Grey areas have little persecution of Christians.
Source: World Watch List 2020
Micro-Meditation Scripture
Psalm 119:121-128 (Samekh, 16th letter)
- I have done what is righteous and just;
do not leave me to my oppressors. - Ensure your servant’s well-being;
do not let the arrogant oppress me. - My eyes fail, looking for your salvation,
looking for your righteous promise. - Deal with your servant
according to your love
and teach me your decrees. - I am your servant; give me discernment
that I may understand your statutes. - It is time for you to act, LORD;
your law is being broken. - Because I love your commands
more than gold, more than pure gold, - and because I consider all your precepts
right, I hate every wrong path.
Micro-Meditation
Teaching or Command of God
Revelation 3:17-18
You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Psalm 91:14
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord,
“I will rescue him; I will protect him,
for he acknowledges my name.”
Micro-Meditation
Pondering Point
What – or who – do you consider to worth its weight in gold (about $29,136 per pound in August 2021 dollars)? Do you, like the psalmist, see God’s commands as more valuable than gold?