He Asked | Part 2

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S.O.A.P. – “Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer”

Today’s devotion is about attitudes. Are you more affected by other people’s attitudes, or are other people more affected by your attitudes?

Jesus continued his prayer for his disciples: “I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.

“My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.

“Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.” John 17:6–19 NLT

Based on Jesus’ prayer, what is his attitude like? Is he prideful/arrogant/egotistical? Full of humility? How should that shape your attitude?

Jesus said this about the disciples God gave him: “they bring me glory.” What does that mean? Do YOU bring Jesus glory?

Jesus’ purpose in telling the disciples many things was “so they would be filled with my joy.” This joy would give them the strength through the trials they would face to keep their eyes on Jesus. What rhythms have you established in your life to help you focus on Jesus so you can be filled with Jesus’ joy?

Lord, I sometimes struggle to have a joyful attitude, and it affects me and the people around me. Fill me with your joy so that I can be a positive force for good in my relationships!

Today’s devotion is about God’s provision. How important is it to manage your expectations in human relationships? How about in your relationship with God?

Let’s look at the same Scripture from another angle—what God provides: “I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.

Go through the Scripture carefully: what did God provide? What did Jesus provide?

As followers of Jesus, we have been given God’s Word, the power of God’s name identifies and protects us, we have been given a new identity, purpose, family, home, safety, holiness, truth, and “sent-ness” (we’ve been given the privilege of having been sent by God into the world).

Consider taking time to thank God for each one of the gifts listed above that he provided by telling him what it would be like if you didn’t have the gift and why your life is better because of it. For example, “Lord, thank you for giving me your Word. If I didn’t have your Word, I wouldn’t have access to your wisdom, plan, or beauty. Because I have your Word, I now have your light to illuminate my path.”

When you consider your spiritual/emotional/relational maturity, what do you need to grow in next? What do you anticipate the process will be to genuinely grow that in your life?

Jesus prayed this for his disciples: “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.” John 17:17–19 NLT

Peter, one of the disciples Jesus prayed for that day, went on to write this: “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:3–11 NLT

In our pursuit of spiritual growth, we must realize that it is founded on faith in Jesus. We “give up” on ourselves, give ourselves over to Jesus to “die to ourselves” so we can live a “new life” by the power of the Holy Spirit. Being a Christian isn’t a harsh “be better” “do better” “try harder” program of self-development. Being a Christian is living in the joyful assurance of having been loved and forgiven…and the lifestyle of gratefully “becoming like Jesus” that follows. Through the ups and downs, successes and failures, we know we are loved and forgiven. So we keep on getting closer to Jesus, and as a result, we become more like him.

Lord, thank you for loving and forgiving me, paying for my sin on the cross, and giving me the power to live a new life. Help me live “wide open,” not shortsighted or blind.

What do you love to smell? What memory does the smell bring back?

Jesus prayed for his disciples: “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. John 17:9–10 NLT

Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.

Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus. John 12:1–11 NLT

Stop to consider the extreme responses to Jesus described in this Scripture: Lazarus who had been dead, Mary who poured out an extravagant gift in worship, Judas whose greed blinded him, the people eager for a glimpse of Jesus, followed by the “leading priests” so utterly blind by their lust for power that they plotted to kill Jesus AND Lazarus. Jesus said that where your treasure is, there your heart WILL BE also. Can you identify what each of these people chose to treasure in their hearts? How about you…today…right now…what are you choosing to treasure? Will it bring you life or death?

Lord, protect my heart, mind, and soul. Help me to treasure you and your truth, so that I can be secure in you and have abundant life in me to share with others!

Do you remember what Jesus asked God to do for you?

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:1–11 NLT

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4–9 NLT

How do you personally answer the first few questions?

Imagine a fully devoted follower of Jesus—how does that person think, feel, act, and relate?

Are you full of joy in the Lord? Sometimes it’s hard to feel… Paul says to create the action item of rejoicing. How is this different from waiting on a feeling?

Lord, thank you for your gifts! Fill me with your joy and peace and love so that I can bring your love and grace to the people around me. May you be glorified by my life!

He Asked | Part 2

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