Dear Ones,
Hope you have a grace-filled day! Today is Donut Day and Bible study and then going to Mark and Andrea’s for supper and to say good-by as they leave tomorrow and will journey back to N.C. We had a fun day yesterday shopping, eating out, having T-bone steaks and playing games with family in the evening. Emoji
Devotions from Judy’s heart
We live in difficult times in our culture and we need to become mature followers of Christ to stand boldly and confidently in this day. I read Ronald Rolheiser’s presentation of the three-phased experience of becoming a mature disciple of Christ. The first phase is essential discipleship when we respond to Christ’s invitation to follow Him and begin our life of grace. The second phase is mature discipleship as we struggle to model our lives after the Lord, giving our lives away in serving others. The third phase is radical discipleship in which we give our deaths away.

Our challenge today is to practice what we believe and be what we say we are. We want more than “cheap grace,” for we model our lives after Jesus and that begins to be costly. It means we give our life to the Lord no matter what adversity follows; we condemn sin and receive grace. Rolheiser gives the example of Bonhoeffer who was executed in 1945 as he was considered an enemy of the Third Reich. But how do we prepare to follow the Lord even in adversity, times of violence and persecution?

Rolheiser goes on to say that we can’t rely on our willpower alone or we will get worn down, compromising our maturity and discipleship. We need God’s power and strength to help us grow and stand, and that is found in PRAYER that sustains us and anchors us. Jesus found divine power as He prayed to His Father, often going off by Himself to pray. Jesus’ disciples knew that Jesus’ power didn’t come from within Himself, but from God. They became men of prayer, for they wanted this close connection with the Father also. It was evident as they preached in power, healed the sick, cast out demons and did the works of Jesus.

We also must become people of prayer if we are to reflect Jesus to the world and be willing to stand for Him no matter what happens in our culture. May we become mature disciples that are grounded in prayer and nourished by God’s grace.

Challenge for today: Ask for the Lord’s help to be anchored in prayer and model your life after Him.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy