The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Luke 14-15
Act 3: God’s New Covenant People
Scene 2: Christ’s Ministry; God’s True King Manifests His Kingdom
Background Information: Luke 14-15
Our priority tends to be ourselves. What would happen if we moved through life like Jesus did, looking to the interests of others ahead of our own? What if we left the best seats for others instead of jostling for first place ourselves? What if we invited guests who would not only be unable to reciprocate but who would need help sitting at our table and eating their food? There is a price to be paid to follow Jesus. When he becomes our Lord, his priorities become ours. Financial and family obligations must not keep us from following him. In fact, our love for Jesus will be such a priority that all other loves will look like hate in comparison. This is such a high cost, who can pay it? Who would want to pay it? Of course, Jesus doesn’t want us to actually hate our families or our own lives. He does want us to love him with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. It is because Jesus loves us so much that he demands that we love him like this. We become like what we love. Even “good” loves like family can become idols in our hearts. Idols of any kind will take life from us. When a child becomes an idol, we will try to get from that child what she cannot give us. The result is not peace, or joy, or often, even a relationship. Only brokenness comes from idolatry. Jesus alone is capable of being the center of our hearts. He demands supreme loyalty because he knows how our hearts are made. We must count the cost of following him, but this works both ways. Yes, it will mean making him Lord of everything in our lives. It will also mean that, as Lord, he will come find us and care for us. This demanding Lord is desperate to find the one lost sheep and coin. This demanding Lord is the Father, ready to receive the lost son or daughter back. Yes, we must count the cost, but we must also be sure to count the gain. The gain is much greater than any cost.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for Christian Challenge. Ask God to speak to students as they gather tonight. Pray for students who do not know Christ to turn to him in repentance and faith.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.