Psalms of Discipleship (Grace) Principle #9, March 10, 2012

Hello dear friends! I pray that all of you growing in your love for the Lord Jesus. This week's Psalms of Discipleship underscores just how important grace is when it comes to our spiritual vision. Without grace, all we see is a whole lot of legalism, works, and a wrong view of God. Grace allows us the best seat in the house. May we all enjoy the show.

In Christ,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #9

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 1 Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge Until destruction passes by. 2 I will cry to God Most High, To God who accomplishes all things for me. 3 He will send from heaven and save me; He reproaches him who tramples upon me. Selah. God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth. Psalm 57:1-3

Core Value: Grace

One way to look at the grace of God is to have a front row seat to the best show in town. From where we sit, no one is in the way to distract us, no one is in our line of sight. Contrast that view from having a seat at the back, behind a pillar, behind a person who has big hair. We hear what is going on and how the crowd is responding, but we can’t see a thing. Where we sit has huge implications in living the Christian life. The seat that the Lord provides us is free, undeserved, and is always the best seat in the house. It is all because of grace. This is what it means to be “in Christ”: (note the phrase “in Him)

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation -having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:2-14

How is the view from where you are sitting?

Principle #9 & Personal Application: Quality disciples are keenly aware of the need to run to God and take refuge in Him.

• Grace allows us to see God as a gracious God (vs. 1a)

• Grace allows us to find a safe place in God (vs. 1b)

• Grace allows us cry out to a Most High God who is working for our good (vs. 2)

• Grace allows us to trust Him for protection from those who are foes (vs. 3a)

• Grace allows us to be the recipients of His lovingkindess and His truth (vs. 3b)

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

How has God been gracious to me?

What does it mean for me to take refuge in the Lord?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, O my God, I thank You that it is in Your holy character to be gracious to me. My soul does take refuge in You. In the shadow of Your protective wings, I hide in them. I cry out to You, my God Most High. You are the One who accomplishes all things for me. You send from heaven my deliverance and protection from those who are my foes. You send to me Your lovingkindness and truth.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2012 All rights reserved.

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Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #30--Bible Study--August 6, 2011

Warm greetings to you, my dear friends! Today we are going to discuss a topic that, for some, may be a struggle: learning how to gain a better handle on Bible study. For these, it has become a legalistic ritual. For others of you, you have found the mother lode of spiritual growth and continue to strike it rich. The psalmist gives us his perspective. May we learn and apply what he experienced.

Learning with you,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #30 (Bible Study)

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart." Psalm 40:8

Core Value: Bible Study

My way, or His way? My will, or His? This is the cosmic game of tug of war that every disciple of Jesus participates in everyday. One of the great resources the disciple of Jesus has to draw from is the Word of God. We need to study it, meditate upon it, and obey it. And yet, there is an important consideration for why we need to do this: it is not so we can become experts at Bible trivia. It is not so we can fill ourselves with knowledge, for knowledge’s sake. We approach God’s Word, through grace, because we want to know Him in a far deeper way, to embrace a more intimate relationship that will cause us to become more like Jesus.

There are at least two ways in which believers approach Bible study. One way is the way of the Pharisee. They know a lot, but are dead on the inside. Words like “should” and “must” constantly haunt the spiritual Pharisee. Bible study or a “quiet time” is done out of guilt or pride and is completely void of joy. It is this kind of legalism which drives them to performance, seeking not to only impress others who are watching, but ironically, even trying to please God in a sort of twisted way.

There is a far better way to approach Bible study. It is the way of grace. Grace draws us closer to Him. We come to learn a lot about the ways of the Lord, and a deeper knowledge of Him makes us alive on the inside. Words like “may” and “can” fill our hearts with a passion to know Him more and gives us a deep appreciation that God would reveal Himself to us on such an intimate level. Bible study or a “quiet time” is done as a “delight” as we experience a joy in His presence that only He can give (Ps. 16:11).

It is this kind of grace-driven life that draws us into a life where our imperfections are covered by the blood of Christ and where we find acceptance by Him and by those who love Him too.

Principle #30 & Personal Application: The quality disciple is so consumed by the Word of God that it becomes the only grid for how life is lived.

• Bible study, done for the right reasons, will produce a right desire: “I delight to do Your will, O my God.”

• Bible study, done in the right way, will produce a right reason to gain more knowledge of His Law: not to know more about Him, but to know Him better.

• Bible study, done with the goal of a right life, will produce a right course for life because of God’s Word that “is within my heart.”

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

When I read my Bible and come across a verse that challenges me to submit and obey, how do I usually respond to it?

What is my plan this week to place more of God’s Word within my heart?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, may I always find delight in doing Your will. I confess, I often want my way but grant me the grace to want Your way more today than I did yesterday and even more tomorrow. May I make a fresh commitment today to place more of Your Word within my heart.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service​—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.

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