New Here?A Life in Christ Week 4
Sean Roberds | Mar 04, 2013
A Life in Christ
Week 4: Tough Teachings
Introduction
Warning!The following teachings are difficult. They may be dangerous and treacherous and could make you look vulnerable, silly and uncool. But they are the teachings of Jesus, so we must pay attention. A life in Christ is a life that is being transformed into the person Jesus wants us to be. One way to be transformed is to pay attention to what Jesus has to say. The teachings of Jesus can be very hard at times, but don’t give up too easily. In studying the teachings of Jesus allow yourself grace, knowing that at times you will fall short. But push yourself to live out his teachings, as hard and dangerous as they may be, so that the transformation of abundant life may truly be yours.
Monday – Blessings and Woes
With Jesus nothing is what it seems, and everything looks backwards, upside down and inside out. It is fair to say that Jesus sees the world differently. I think we can agree that he sees the world through the Kingdom’s eye. In the Kingdom of God things are valued differently; one could say things have the very opposite value they’d have in the world. In the Kingdom of God, it is not what you have that is important; it is the life you live. In The Kingdom, it’s not how much you indulge yourself, but how much love you give away. In The Kingdom, it’s not how good you feel, but how committed you are to God. The Kingdom that Jesus has come to proclaim is not about self but about God and the community of his creation.
Read today’s passage, Luke 6:20-26, and take a moment to reflect.
Questions:
Can you remember a time you felt blessed even though what you were going through was very hard?
Most of us live comfortable lives. We would not be considered poor, but we don’t think of ourselves as rich either. So how would you determine whether you would be on the blessed side or the woe side if Jesus were speaking today?
We all like being well thought of by others but when does that get in the way of being well thought of by God?
When was the last time you gave up something of any significance for someone else?
Actions:
Think about where you spend most of your time and most of your money and use that to determine what you truly value. Is what you value the same as what Jesus values?
Write a prayer asking God to help you to put away the things in which he says woe to and to help you embrace the things Jesus blesses.
Tuesday – Reflection Day
Reread yesterday’s passage, Luke 6:20-26.
Questions:
What word, phrase or verse stands out to you after this reading? Take time to consider why.
What troubles you the most about this passage? Spend some time thinking about why it troubles you.
Think about what this passage tells us about Jesus’ values. List ways you can shape your life so that what you value is the same as what Jesus values.
Is there a prayer to be prayed by you from this passage? Spend some time praying that prayer.
Wednesday – Love of Enemies
A life in Christ is an invitation to love the way that God loves us. Love itself is easy because love is natural. We long to love and so we do. Think about it: Everybody loves someone even if the only one they love is themselves. But God loves everyone and that’s not so easy. Jesus says, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” This kind of love is not natural. Love is powerful and it is the only power that can overcome evil. God destroyed the power of evil through his love in Christ Jesus. As his followers we are called to join him in what appears to be foolish love. Yet this foolish love is more powerful than anything in all creation.
Read today’s passage, Luke 6:27-36, and take a moment to reflect.
Questions:
Whom do you find hard to love?
What is the cost of loving those we view as our enemies?
Is there a difference between loving your enemies and being taken advantage of? If so, where is the line between being used and practicing “hard love”?
When have you experienced the power of love in your life?
Actions:
Think about situations in your life where love can overcome some form of evil.
Pray that God will reveal to you those who need God-like love.
Thursday – Reflection Day
Reread yesterday’s passage, Luke 6:27-36.
What surprises you the most about Jesus’ teaching in this passage?
Look at verses 29-31. If any of these situations occurred to you, how easy would it be for you to follow Jesus’ teaching? Why do you think Jesus wants us to respond in such a way?
Reflect on how well you live out the Golden Rule (verse 31).
Spend time praying that you would understand these teachings and be able to apply them to your life.
Friday – Judging Others
This passage is proof that Jesus had a sense of humor. I bet the disciples were chuckling when they imagined the image of someone with a log in his eye trying to clean the speck out of someone else’s. It is such a ridiculous scene, and that’s the point – judging others is absurd. I believe we judge others to justify ourselves. If we can point out the wrong in others, then no matter how broken we are, we can make ourselves look better. The problem is that judging helps no one. We are not helping to improve the spiritual life of the people we cast judgments against, and by looking at other people’s problems we are not facing our own. We need to focus on our own brokenness and seek our own healing. Then maybe the example we live will serve as a testimony to those who, like us, need spiritual healing.
Read today’s passage, Luke 6:37-42, and take a moment to reflect.
Questions:
Who do you judge and why do you think you do it?
How much time do you spend looking at the specks in other people’s eyes? How much time do you spend praying about the logs in yours?
What is the difference between judging others and making a distinction between what is right or wrong?
In the last verse, Jesus mentions helping others take the speck out of their eyes. Knowing that judging is wrong, when is it right to help others who are doing wrong?
Actions:
Pay attention to how often you are tempted to judge people today.
Spend some time assessing the logs that are in your eye. Where do you need improvements in your spiritual life? What are you doing that is wrong and how can you put an end to it?
Saturday – Reflection Day
Look back over the devotions from this week and think about what you have learned, the challenges you’ve faced and the progress you’ve made at following Jesus’ teachings.
Reread all three passages from the week and reflect on the verses that stand out to you today.
List three teachings where you need improvement in implementing and plan how to make that happen.
