Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #39 (Grace). October 20, 2012

Hello my dear friends! One of the greatest challenges for the disciple of Jesus is to admit need . . . to oneself, to others, and sometimes even to God. Contrary to popular belief, being in need is not a sign of weakness but a fact of life. Jesus not only meets our every need, He is our greatest need.

I need Him every hour. You do too.

Denny



Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #39

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

Key Scripture: 12 For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help, The afflicted also, and him who has no helper. 13 He will have compassion on the poor and needy, And the lives of the needy he will save. 14 He will rescue their life from oppression and violence, And their blood will be precious in his sight; Psalm 72:12-14

Core Value: Grace

How needy are you today? We live in a culture where being in need is seen as a weakness. It takes courage to admit need. It takes a measure of humility to come to the place where it feels safe to be real enough to accept help. Spiritual pride says, “no thanks. I’ve got it.” Spiritual humility says, “thanks for offering. I’ll take it.”

What do you need to do with your needs? Give them, all of them, to Jesus.

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33 (NLT)

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NLT)

Principle #39 & Personal Application: Quality disciples need rescuing by the only One who can save.

Note: This is a Messianic prophecy that points to Jesus Christ, the Righteous King.

Application:

The quality disciple needs rescuing by the only One who can save.

• There is no one like Jesus: Only Jesus can rescue the needy and afflicted when they cry for help (vs. 12).

• There is no one like Jesus: Only Jesus can offer the kind of compassion for the poor and needy that will transform their lives (vs. 13).

• There is no one like Jesus: Only Jesus can grant His peace to those who are in places of oppression and violent conflict (vs. 14).

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

When I am going through a difficult circumstance, how does the grace of God help me cope?

What can I learn from Jesus’ example on how He relates to the needy, afflicted, and the poor?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, May I have Your heart, Your passion, for those who are in desperate need of rescue by You. May I have Your ears so I can be in tune with the cries of those who are hurting. May I have Your hands so I can touch the needy with Your love. And may I have Your feet that will lead me down the path of service done in Your name.

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.
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

Looking for an easy way to boost your devotional life? Add Psalms of Discipleship: A One Year Journey With the Shepherd to your library. Now in ebook format.

http://www.dennybates.com/#!A%20One%20Year%20Journey%20With%20The%20Shepherd/c6pu

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #33--Service--August 27, 2011

Hello my dear friends! As I write today, I look out the window and see a breezy day as Irene blows by South Carolina. On one hand, I am relieved that "she" decided to ignore us and head up north. On the other hand, I have dear friends in the Lord who are in her path and will be given a much more rude introduction to her fury. I am burdened to pray for them. I know you will pray too. No doubt, there will be destruction of personal property that will cause great loss. Even sadder, there will be the destruction of property owned by the poor who will never recover. Those who have homes today will be homeless tomorrow. Who will help these people? As believers we know who should bear the greater responsibility: its not the government, it is the Church of Jesus Christ.

This is the theme of today's Psalms of Discipleship: if you want to get blessed by the Lord, consider the helpless. We help because He first helped us.

In His care,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #33

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

Key Scripture: How blessed is he who considers the helpless; The LORD will deliver him in a day of trouble. Psalm 41:1

Core Value: Service

One of the predominate themes of the Scriptures is stewardship. For example, if we have been given much, much is required of us. If we are in places of influence, we are expected to use our influence to help others who lack “power.” We must remember, that in God’s eyes, we are not owners of what He has entrusted to us, but “managers” or “stewards” only. I realize that this runs counter to a culture where the winner is considered to be the person who has accumulated the most toys at the end. For many, their life mission has become: we work, we collect, we store, we go back to work and collect and store and do so until we can take it to our graves. It is a “me only” life. The gospel is completely different: it is a “Christ in me” life. It is Christ in me who allows me to work, collect and store so I might be able to help those who are helpless. It’s a call to service, and if we embrace it, the promise of Scripture is that the Lord will consider us blessed.

“Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.” Let the blessings flow!

Principle #33 & Personal Application: The quality disciple has compassion for the poor.

• If we take care of the poor, the Lord will bless us: “How blessed is he who considers the helpless (the poor).”

• If we take care of the poor, the Lord will take care of us: “The Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble.”

• We are to love the poor, with a sense of humility and service:

7 And He began speaking a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them, 8 "When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give your place to this man,' and then in disgrace you proceed to occupy the last place. 10 "But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher'; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you. 11 "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." 12 And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. 13 "But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." Luke 14:7-14 (NASB95)

Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Romans 12:16 (NASB95)

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

In what ways has the Lord called me to minister to the poor?

Do I know anyone who is poor? What can I do to serve them?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You say that the poor will always be with us. Give me Your eyes to see them; Your heart to love them; Your compassion to serve them. May I never become so full of myself that I ignore the needs of my fellow man.

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.

www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com