Week 2 Devos

Day 1: Trusting God



Sometimes it seems that to trust or obey God would lead to disaster. In certain instances speaking the truth, maintaining integrity, or remaining faithful run counter to our basic instincts or human reasoning. When is it hard for your to trust God?



Suppose God asked you to do something that seemed utterly foolish or even contrary to all that you understand God to be. How would you respond? For example, what if God asked you to kill your child? Unthinkable? Yet in Genesis 22 God places Abraham in just such a position. In this vivid and dramatic narrative, among the most beautiful in the Old Testament we observe Abraham coming face to face with the supreme test of his faith in God.



Read Genesis 22:1-19



How would you feel if God asked you to give up the most important person in your life?









List specific ways in which Abraham demonstrates faith in verses 1-10.











From Abraham’s example, how would you define faith?











How does faith affect those around you? What about lack of faith?













How can Abraham’s example encourage you to trust God more fully?



Day 2: Living Holy Lives



Read Ephesians 4:17-5:7



In verses 17-19 Paul describes how the Gentiles live. How does he describe them?





How were the Ephesians taught to live as Christians (vv 20-24)







How can we renew our minds practically?







How can we imitate God in our relationships with others (5:1-2)







Day 3: Showing Compassion

Who has shown you compassion? We can speak of love, but fail to back up our words with being kind and merciful. As you read this passage imagine that you are hearing it from Jesus himself for the first time.



Read Luke 10:25-37

Rewrite the story in your own words.





What did you learn about the expert in the law.







Who is your neighbor?







What keeps you from not only seeing but also acting in response to the needs of those around you?







How can you be more of a neighbor to these people?



Day 4: Serving Others



Power. Glory. Success. Throughout human history these have captured the hearts of men and women. In the midst of a society which measures the worth of a position and wealth, it is no wonder that Christians have struggled to stand for values of the kingdom of God: humility, self-denial, gentleness, love. In the eyes of the world these are often signs of weakness rather than strength.



In what ways do you struggle with seeing yourself as a servant?



Jesus came not to be served but to serve. He calls us to follow in his steps.



Read Philippians 2



How is Christ the supreme example of the humility and servanthood described in verses 3-4?







What did it cost him to be a servant? (vv6-8)







Jesus said “The son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45). Paul, and Timothy demonstrated the same kind of lifestyle. What are some ways that you might follow their example more fully today or this week?











How can you serve others joyfully?











Read John 13:1-17 what additional insights does this passage provide?



Day 5: Serving God



In today’s culture people admire those who put others before themselves. People who serve homeless people are viewed as saints. People who feed hungry children are revered. People who serve God, sometimes are ridiculed. People who serve God, sometimes are seen as idiots.



Have you ever backed down from serving God out of fear or peer pressure?



If Jesus were standing in front of you right now and mentioned that he was thirsty, would you get him any water? If he mentioned he was hungry, would you fix him some food?





Read Matthew 25:31-46



Rewrite this story in your own words?







Who are the sheep? Who are the goats?











If you were to die today, which group would you be put in, the sheep or the goats?











Who do we end up serving when we show compassion and serve the least of these?









How does knowing that you are literally serving God when you serve others change your motivation to reach out?