[PDF]Lesson 4, Devotion 1 Lesson 4, Devotion 2 Lesson 4, Devotion 3bb4952eb1bcc2086c287-520754fb039f1912d411624744ca4045.r85.cf2.rackcdn.co...
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Lesson 4, Devotion 2
Lesson 4, Devotion 1 “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.” ⎯ John 17:14-‐16 It’s not a small thing to be wanted by God. And make no mistake about it, God wants you. It’s pretty easy to see, actually. The fact that you’re here at all speaks volumes about God’s opinion of you. After all, if God didn’t want you on this earth, all He had to do was not create you. But He did create you. And more than that, He called you to Himself. He offered you salvation, the chance to be at peace with Him through faith in His Son, Jesus. And in these verses you just read, we see that Jesus asked that you, and all of His followers, be kept in this world. Do you see the immense value this places on your life? Do you sense the potential? See, Jesus wants His followers to remain on this earth even though He knows that the road will sometimes be tough. He wants us here because we are a part of His plan to share His story of love and redemption with the world around us. You are Jesus’ mouthpiece to a world in need of Him. So next time you’re tempted to get down on yourself, or doubt your worth, just remember: you’re a child of God, loved, valued, and chosen. And Jesus thinks you’re just the right person to impact your world in His name.
Have fun with this devotion. Embrace your creativity. Following God above all else and being on mission with Him to help share the message of the Gospel with the world starts with seeing the world around you as the beautiful, God-‐given blessing that it is. Today, using the camera on your phone, take pictures of anything that reminds you of God’s love for us, His hand in creation, and His desire to make all things new. Consider posting them on Instagram with a hashtag that somehow gives praise and worship to God. Then, look back over the pictures at the end of the day and thank God for the amazing love and kindness He has showed you and others.
Lesson 4, Devotion 3 As you have talked about what it means to love God and not the world, this quote does a really good job of capturing the idea. See what you think: “Those who love the world serve and worship themselves every moment: it is their full-‐time job.” ⎯ J. I. Packer What does this mean to you? How does it relate to what you’ve been thinking about and studying the last few weeks? It’s really quite simple: if we love and identify with Christ, we can’t identify with the world. Identifying with the world is about giving in to our sin natures. And sin is ultimately about self. If you can begin to learn to seek Jesus before seeking to fit in with the world around you, even though it may cost you comfort and popularity, you will have discovered what it means to truly live as a
Christ-‐follower in this world. It’s not easy. But this is what it means to live as an authentic Christian. You can do it. God will help you. Pray that God will begin to open your eyes to what a life of loving Him looks like in your world.