SCRIPTURE
"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified."  Isaiah 61:3 KJV

DEVO
Throughout the Bible and ancient practices, ashes have often been the symbol of deep repentance and grief.

Not exactly a nice, happy thought to get your day going. But the reality of it all sinks in deep. Because, as many of us know, life is not always “happy.”

Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes it’s hard. Sometimes it’s dark. And it leaves its mark, like ashes of grief, in the deepest parts of our souls, where no one but God can really see.

You may understand if you've ever felt these ashes:
You’ve ever lost a loved one or had to say good-bye too soon, left to journey through dark days of grief, wondering if you’d ever be able to carry on without them at your side…
You’ve ever received a hard diagnosis, faced the fear of the unknown, and felt the effects of disease and pain...
You’ve ever been deeply wounded, betrayed, abused, or mistreated…
You've ever walked through the fire of hard situations and wondered if you'd come out the other side…

SCRIPTURE
I will be your God throughout your lifetime--until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.
- Isaiah 46:4

DEVOTIONAL
What keeps you up at night? What scenario plays over and over in your mind, like you're trapped on a roller coaster and cannot get off? Finances, illness, death, job security, changes, and relationships can sabotage our minds. We all experience fear and anxiety, but some experience it only occasionally while others do battle with it every day. Fear is looking in at our own life or looking around at other circumstances and people instead of looking up to God for His peace, wisdom, and guidance- trusting that He will carry us through anything we face today, tomorrow, and forever.  The psalmist said,
"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:1-2)
Most of the situations that swirl around and around in our minds never actually occur. Major events usually come as a blindside: cancer diagnosis, death, betrayal. We would be wise to spend our lives building up our relationship and knowledge of the Lord our God rather than spending our lives worrying about what is coming down the road. The Lord will remind you  in the dark what He has taught you in the light. Know the Lord. Draw on His strength. He will be your God throughout your lifetime, come what may.  

APPLICATION
When you find yourself looking inward or out at circumstances in fear this week, switch your focus up to God instead. Remind yourself what you know to be true of Him.
Write down the things that are causing you angst. Can you give those to God in full faith of His good plan? Ask a friend or pastor to pray with you about the things on your mind.
Run anything you fear through Philippians 4:8-9. Is your fear true? Lovely? Admirable? Excellent? Praise-worthy? If the answer is no, stop thinking on it. Replace it with thoughts that are true, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praise-worthy.
Read Psalm 121.
Playlist: No Longer Slaves by Melissa Helser, Fear Is a Liar by Zach Williams, Even If by Mercy Me, Never Once by Matt Redman, Break Every Chain by Jesus Culture

Scripture:
Exodus 4:13-16 ESV
“13But he said, "Oh, my Lord, please send someone else." 14Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, "Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. 16He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him.”

Devo:
When Moses was overwhelmed with inadequacy, completely unconvinced that he was able to do what God called him to, God didn’t give up on him. Instead, he sent Aaron. Moses was terrified of public speaking to the point that although the living God spoke audibly to him, commissioning him to speak, to save his people, Moses bowed to his fear instead of the living God.

For Christians today, there are a thousand reasons we can think of to talk ourselves out of the call of God. One reason being that we aren’t sure that’s what he wants us to do. Our lack of hearing the clear voice of God the way Moses did is only one barrier keeping us from obedience. Moses didn’t have that excuse - he heard God’s voice loud and clear, but he still thought of other excuses to get him out of his call.

The beautiful part of this story is that although Moses wanted to remain lying in his ashes, God continued to lead him towards beauty. For Moses, the voice that told him he couldn’t - the voice that told him he was not enough - spoke louder than the voice of even God. It’s easy to look down on Moses for this; it’s easy for us to say “wow, you had God speaking audibly to you, and still, you did not live up to your calling.” But don’t we do the same? We have something much similar to God’s audible voice; we have the Holy Spirit living and breathing inside of us, and he is there to guide us. Yet when God calls us we act like we “just aren’t sure” or “he just wasn’t clear enough.” The spirit of God is there to help us. I would argue that like Moses, for us, that is just another excuse among a thousand others which prevents us from obeying the call of God. This excuse-making, I believe, is for the same reason Moses made excuses: we live in fear.

God calls us to so much more than a life of fear. He’s given us a spirit of love, power, and self-control as it says in 2 Timothy 1:7. He’s called and commissioned each one of us to specific tasks we are meant to live out in this life. He created us for good works, he planned these things before we breathed our first breath!

The good news is that we love and serve a God of grace. And that grace and love is made manifest more times than not through people; through discipleship. God gave us the body of Christ; the church; brothers and sisters to carry us when our fear is crippling us from doing the things we were created to do. This part is important - Satan will instill a fear into you that comes the most intensely when you are doing exactly what God wants you to do. But this fear and doubt makes us feel like we’re doing the exact opposite; like we shouldn’t be here, we aren’t good enough, or someone else could do it better. Grace comes in to this part so beautifully: even when we are so caught up in the belief that we are not enough, to the point that it is crippling; even when we, like Moses, refuse our calling and refuse to speak, that calling is not taken away. We are simply graced, at that point, by people who will lift us up and aid us in those areas we have not yet grown into. Aaron was this aid to Moses, he displayed this grace and help by speaking for him when Moses was so deathly afraid of it that he was willing to run away from what the living God commissioned him in.

People are important to your walk with God. Discipleship is crucial. It’s crucial to walk your Christian life with more components than just you and God. You will try to run away at some point, like most great characters in the Bible have before you. People are one of the main ways God will pull you back. You need encouragement from people, so that the fear which tries to immobilize you in your God-given call will dissipate. We need people because it’s our nature to run away, to stop believing in ourselves, to convince ourselves we are not good enough. To function in this world in the precise position God has called you to, you need people to pull you back in. You need discipleship. You need Aaron for the day you start acting like Moses. God will provide you with these relationships, be open to them. Steward them faithfully and lovingly. We need community far more than we realize at times.

Questions:

1. Are you being discipled?
2. Are you discipling others?
3. What is one specific thing God is calling you to which you’ve blocked out because of fear?
4. What is one of the most powerful ways you’ve been discipled which you can replicate and use to disciple others?

Scripture
Matthew 28.18-20
“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’”

Ephesians 4.11-13
“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”

Devo
Jesus had a lot to say throughout His ministry on earth…the Gospels are full of His teaching and His miracles. After His resurrection? His primary directive was “Go and make disciples…” Making disciples is our primary job as followers of Jesus.

That’s an intimidating thought for a lot of us. What if I don’t know how? or What does it look like to be a disciple? Let’s start with what a disciple looks like. A disciple is a learner or a follower, but he or she is not simply a student. The goal of the disciple is to know what the Master knows so that he or she can do what the Master does so that he or she can be like the Master. At Central we say it this way…“Transforming families to live and love like Jesus.” How do we know? Time spent in the Word. Time spent in prayer. Time spent with other believers. That allows us to do so that we can become more like Jesus. Of course the whole process is a work of the Spirit in our lives.

So then, how do you make a disciple? You start with sharing your story with someone who doesn’t know Jesus. If and when they come to faith, they trust in Jesus for forgiveness of sins and eternal life, then it’s as easy as teaching them to do what you are doing…time spent in the Word, time spent in prayer, time spent with other believers and sharing their story with someone who doesn’t know Jesus.

Discipleship is not just me, my Bible and a cup of coffee. It’s a team sport. The goal is all of us reaching maturity. We are in this together…no lone ranger Christians. It reminds me of when Jack and I decided to try tae kwon do many, many moons ago. The first day we entered the dojo, it was clear that the goal was for us to be black belts. Even though there were a number of them present, the sensei didn’t consider his job done until we all crossed the finished line. The idea in Ephesians 4 is very similar…it’s not about one of us making it to maturity. It’s a group project. The job’s not done until we all attain to the unity of the faith…

Questions
1.Are you a disciple…are you spending time daily in God’s Word and in prayer? Are meeting with other believers often? Are you sharing your story with those who don’t know Jesus? If not, what’s holding you back?

2.Who have you shared your story with? Whose on your impact list?

3.Is discipleship individual or corporate?
- While the personal element of discipleship is important, the corporate sense is also super                  important.
- Ex: Jesus’ 3, 12, 70
- Romans 12 – discipleship imperatives are based on community

4. If you were with Steph Curry for 1 year, what would you hope to be good at? What about Tom Brady? What about with Jesus? What was Jesus good at?

“May we become increasingly good at what Jesus was extraordinary at – living confidently and competently in the kingdom, exercising kingdom prerogatives for the benefit of others, and calling others into a kingdom relationship.” Dallas Willard

SCRIPTURE:
Psalm 63:2-4
"I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands."

DEVOTIONAL:
We need to come before God in worship with a posture of praise, knowing that He doesn’t want only part of us, but He both wants and deserves all that we can offer Him. We can connect with God in new ways when we humble ourselves in worship. We can look to scripture for different ways we’ve been taught to worship: with singing, playing of instruments, clapping, dancing, and lifting our hands.

We can see through these postures ways that we extend ourselves to be closer to God and
to worship Him for the ways we’ve seen Him work in our lives. What would our worship look
like if we preached the gospel to ourselves each day? If we walked through all the different times the Lord has had favor on us, seen us through a situation or stood alongside us in the fire – our worship would reflect the goodness and grace that He’s lavished on us.

David, when writing this Psalm, was reflecting on the ways he had seen God move in his
life and he says, because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. Can we proclaim
this over our lives today? If not, how can we reshape our outlook? And if the answer is yes, then
how are we praising Him?

Everyone has a different way of humbling themselves during worship and there’s no way
that is better than another if they reach the same end goal of honoring our Savior. For some
people, when they worship they feel close to God by dropping to their knees, being overcome
with humility at the feet of the Lord. Others, they sing songs of praise with their eyes closed and
arms outstretched, letting go in surrender. Maybe it’s by swaying or clapping our hands along
with the song – whatever it is, we ought to do it wholeheartedly, not because the person next to
us is doing it or we believe it to make us more holy – but because God has been good to us and
deserves it.

There are some of us that need to be challenged in this regard. Maybe we’ve never done
any of these and we are even hesitant to sing aloud at church on Sundays or when CYA
gathers. We are encouraged to step out in faith that God will meet us in times of worship and
surrender our hearts to Him. The beauty in worship is that there’s room for everyone – room for our brokenness and doubt but also for our joy and thanksgiving.

Questions:
How do you commonly find yourself praising God?
How can you challenge yourself to worship in a new way?
How do you feel when you are worshiping?
How would your life be different if that feeling overflowed into the rest of your day?

DEVO
When talking about worship and thinking about glory to God alone, I can’t help but ask the question, What is worship? And what is glory? To me, words mean a lot, for by them we think about things, through thinking about things, we make choices on how to live.
When I was getting my Master’s Degree, the professors used to say a phrase all the time: Your theology determines your philosophy, which determines your doxology. To say it another way: What you believe determines how you think, which determines how you live.

All of this sounds like it’s stuff we already know and can grasp without having another lesson or
devotional, right?... but as Paul and Peter said in multiple places in the New Testament, “it’s good for me to remind you about such things,”…I believe it is good to be reminded of words and scriptures that help us refocus in on Who God is and our response to Him.

What is worship?

• Webster defines worship as: the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity
• Worship Professor’s definition: Biblical worship is the full-life response-head, heart, and hands- to who God is and what He has done.
• Webster’s origins of the word: Old English weorthscipe‘worthiness, acknowledgment of worth’(see worth, -ship).

To sum it up: Worship is an expression (and can be a feeling, but not limited to) declaring the worth or worthiness of God with all of one’s life: head, heart, and hands to Who God is and what He has done.

Romans 12:1-2 give us a great idea of what God is asking of believers in worship
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living
sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve  what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

What is Glory?

Webster defines glory as:
1) high renown or honor won by notable achievements
2) praise, worship, and thanksgiving offered to a deity

Isaiah 42:5-8 reminds of us God’s glory and His thoughts on it
“This is what God the Lord says—the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: 6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. 8 “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.” These two words and definitions remind us and center us on the true nature of worship…..it’s all about Him and for Him. They remind us that Worship is about living a life that is a sacrifice of praise to God….by word and deed. This is not a life of perfection for sure. It’s not about legalism, it’s about love and gratefulness to the Creator, Sustainer, and Savior of all things…a striving toward Christ and His commands. And to be reminded, it is not our accomplishments or achievements that matter, because God does not share His glory with another. God is God and we are not. All of our accomplishments are because of Him….and so goes the honor. I live, I work, I sing, I worship, I lead, and I do everything for God.

QUESTIONS

1. How is your lifestyle of worship going in light of what the scriptures have to say?
2. Are you reflecting the glory of God in your daily life or are you searching for your own significance
3. through personal achievements? (accolades, work, looks, knowledge, friends)
4. How is your time in the word affecting how you think? How you live?
5. in light of the definition and origin of the word worship or ‘worth-ship’, have you ever asked the question: What is God worth to me? What does that mean for my life?
6. What gets you motivated and maybe even excited to worship the Lord? (for Who He is and What He has done)

SCRIPTURE
Ephesians 2:1–10 “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked,
following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is
now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our
flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath,
like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he
loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by
grace you have been saved and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly
places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his
grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith.
And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may
boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

DEVO
At the core of Christianity is the belief that Jesus Christ reconciled man to God though his death
and resurrection. The result of this union is an intimate and personal relationship expressed in
familial terms of Father to children. An essential aspect of the grace of God is that it means we
have fundamentally been moved from one family to another. In other words, our allegiance has
fundamentally been changed from the sons of disobedience to sons of light. First, sons of
disobedience follow the course of this world. The course of this world refers to the mindset,
customs, and practices of those who are separated from God. Describe your mindset towards
Christianity prior to coming Christ? Second, sons of disobedience follow the desires of the flesh
which refers to the selfish part of human nature that puts ones needs above the needs of others.
The gospel removes all grounds for boasting because we all once lived for our flesh and
following the course of this world. The result is being dead in our trespass and being children of
wrath. Paul, reminds the Ephesians that it was an act of God that changed our allegiance, gave us
a new family, and made us alive in Christ. Do you see your salvation as an act of God? That we
are alive together with Christ means that we have union with him. Consequently, believers share
in Christ’s resurrected life—life that is indestructible, in union with God, and led by the Spirit.
This is the result of the grace of God so that no man may boast. Contrary to world religions our
new life is not the result of karma or good works. Our new life is because we have received a gift
of God for which we can take no credit, but only give thanks to the one who gave the gift. That is
the heart of the gospel, God gave, God made alive, and God reconciled. Our new life is not spent
in service to the world or ourselves. Rather, our new lives are to be lived in obedience and good
works. Elsewhere, Paul writes to workout your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2).
Our new life is not meant to be lived in idleness. Each of should be growing in sanctification and
being conformed into the image of Jesus. Furthermore, since we are united with Christ in living
we are united with him in mission. The message of Jesus is different than every other world
religion, it is a message of salvation through grace alone.

REFLECTION

1. Why do you think the Bible chooses to describe our relationship with Christ in familial terms?
2. How does Pauls words “we all once lived” influence our approach to unbelievers to share the
3. gospel of grace?
4. What have you struggled to leave in your past since becoming a Christian (sin, mindset,
5. priority)?
6. Describe a season of doubt/struggle in your Christian life and how the grace of God intervened?
7. Why does Paul tell us that we are saved to walk in good works? Do you know Christians who are
8. idle in their faith, if so how?
9. Why is mercy a point of emphasis in this passage and why is it necessary?

SCRIPTURE:

Acts 15:1–11
 “But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

DEVO:
The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

Since the beginning the church has grown exponentially. Peter preached his sermon in Jerusalem during Pentecost around 3,000 people were saved who received the word. As the church begins to expand outside of the city, gentiles are included in the kingdom of God. Gentiles believers had unique customs, habits, and values. The gentiles coming into the faith have no understanding of Jewish sabbath, cleansing rituals, and traditions. Men come from Judea insisting that gentiles observe jewish customs in order to be saved (vs. 1). Circumcision is a physical sign of membership in the people of God. The issue is brought to the leaders of the church in Jerusalem by Paul and Barnabas to be discussed. The pharisees insist on legalism for salvation and inclusion in the people of God. Legalism is having a strict outward conformity to moral and religious practices and expectations that others have the same. The heart of the gospel is at stake and the debate ends with the apostles declaring that salvation is by grace alone. First, Peter affirms that God made a choice that gentiles would hear and receive the gospel. In other words, it is not the church who decides who is and who is out. Gentiles received the Holy Spirit who is the seal and guarantee of the inheritance of the kingdom of God, not circumcision. Second, Peter continues his affirmation of gentile inclusion in the church because they had their hearts cleansed by faith. The ceremonial washing and former sacrificial system does not have the power to cleanse a heart, faith alone. Third, Peter shows the consistency of Gods plan for the salvation of humanity and forgiveness of sin. Acts 15:11 says, “But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” The grace of God is the reason that people are saved. God made no distinction and gives the Holy Spirit, cleanses hearts by faith, and all of this is the grace of God. The church has a long history of demanding conformity in order to fit in. Imagine receiving the gospel with joy and beginning your journey with Jesus. Then people begin making demands that you earn entry into a community that God himself saved/called you into. In our culture there is a good chance that you have been to church and felt like you did not fit in. Perhaps your outward appearance wasn’t hip enough, personality wasn’t witty enough, or you were not connected with the elite in the church. Our churches today may not be demanding circumcision or jewish customs, but instead demand your able to lead worship, have a family, or no real public sin. Luckily, the church has a long history of leadership and authority. This matter was settled by the apostles long ago, we don’t find our inclusion in legalism or conformity, but the grace of God. There is a sense in which we must be grateful for the preservation of the good news of Jesus Christ. This could have been a turning point for the worse, but instead it becomes a moment to look back on and remember our faith has a long history of inclusion, diversity, and unity. Peter has a shining moment here and it is simple… don’t make it hard for people to join our community.

REFLECTION:
Describe a time when you felt unwelcome in a church setting?
Why can’t we expect people to come back to church a second time if they feel like they did not fit in?
Scale of 1-10 How important is personal relationship in bringing a friend to church?
Who made you feel the most welcome in church and brought you into community?
What area of pressure do you feel from the church to conform in?
What are 3 doctrines we do not have to agree about? (i.e. eschatology, theistic evolution, spiritual gifts?)
Why do we have to agree about salvation? (The solas)

SCRIPTURE:
Hebrews 10:11-14
“Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”

Jesus is our high priest. Unlike the priests who made sacrifices before Jesus came, the sacrifice of Jesus’ perfect life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection holds the power to take away sins and make us perfect forever. 

With that being said, let’s talk about striving for perfection. There are two extreme mindsets that come with accepting this sacrifice. The first is the mindset that takes advantage of grace, and uses Jesus’ perfect life as an excuse to keep on sinning. The second is the mindset that is so focused on striving for holiness, that it forgets grace altogether, which prevents the person from fully accepting the wholeness and perfection that Jesus has already won.

If you have a type-A personality, it’s likely that you strive for perfection. If the standard of perfection was possible for a human to attain, there would be no need for Jesus. If you find yourself striving, God is calling you to rest within the unforced rhythms of grace. A deeper level of freedom comes when you understand the implications of Jesus’ perfection in light of your imperfection. He makes you whole and holy in every place where you are lacking. He has made you perfect forever. This is not at stake when you mess up.

Your identity is not found in your pursuit of perfection. We live in a world full of measurable success - grades, incomes, likes on social media, the number on the scale, and so much more. There are so many numbers in our world, and so many marks that we do not meet, especially in comparison to those around us. But your identity is not found in these transient things, your value is already secure in Jesus. There are so many marks around you that you will not reach, and you will never ever reach perfection. This isn’t a truth to shame us, it’s a truth that liberates us, and brings us into the freedom to be human, and to live within the rhythms of grace. It’s okay to fall and then get back up again. Shame comes with striving. Freedom comes when you fully accept Jesus’ perfection on your behalf. You are valuable, you are loved, and you are secure in Jesus. Your value is not contingent on the marks you do or do not meet. You are more than what you produce.

Rest in grace, knowing that you are free to be human. Jesus is our high priest and he offered the sacrifice that would atone for sins and make us perfect forever. Fully accept his perfection on your behalf, and the voice of shame will become quieter and quieter as his grace liberates you. Christ is in you, and you are in him. He covers your imperfection with his perfection. It dishonors the magnitude of Jesus’ sacrifice when you use grace as an excuse to sin, but so does lessening the wholeness he brings to you by trying to be Jesus, and trying to be perfect on your own. Doing that is essentially forsaking his sacrifice. So don’t disregard what he did for you by trying to be perfect on your own. Pursue holiness, but do not forget your limits in being human. Do not forget the standard Jesus reached in your place, because you are incapable of reaching it. Honor him by accepting his perfection fully. 

“He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”

APPLICATION:
    Consider this week a few areas of your life where you are placing impossible pressure on yourself. Begin to lean into Jesus’ perfection, understanding that you cannot reach that mark, and accepting his sacrifice in the place of your insufficiency, not using grace as an excuse to sin, but as a reason to rest in the reality that you are human.

A significant interaction took place between Jesus and the disciples the night before Jesus died. In this conversation, Jesus foretold that after his death, before his resurrection, all of the disciples would be scattered. It isn’t until his resurrection that their faith will be restored. There is spiritual insight that we can uniquely apply to our own individual journey with Christ by looking closely at this passage. 

SCRIPTURE:
Mark 14:27-28 ESV 
26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” 30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

DEVOTIONAL:
Before Jesus died, the disciples followed him unwaveringly. They were tested, but they had never experienced a spiritual storm so big that it caused them to stray from him. When Jesus died it was the biggest test yet to be experienced of their commitment to him. The passage says that when the shepherd (Jesus) was struck down, it caused the sheep (the disciples) to be scattered. During the three days that Jesus was dead, the disciples had to question, like never before, if Jesus really was who he said he was, and if they wanted to stand with him even in the face of adversity. Matthew Henry’s commentary says this of the disciples’ response to flee:

“Christ knew this before, and yet welcomed them at his table; he sees the falls and miscarriages of his disciples, and yet doth not refuse them. Nor should we be discouraged from coming to the Lord’s supper, by the fear of relapsing into sin afterward; but, the greater of our danger is, the more need we have to fortify ourselves by the diligent conscientious use of holy ordinances.”

The disciples were scattered when they could no longer see Jesus. Isn’t it the same with us? When we cannot see evidence of the hand of God in our lives, when we cannot feel the presence of God, when we cannot hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, that is when things get really hard. That is when we are the most inclined to flee.

You may be facing a storm so big that it has caused you to scatter from Jesus. Maybe your storm is so big, and so distracting, that you cannot see him in the midst of it. Be encouraged that his hand is working things together for good even when you cannot see.

Be encouraged that Jesus welcomes you to his table, despite your shortcomings and despite your lack of faith. Take heart in knowing that even when you cannot see God, he is near to you. As Christians, we cannot let emotion be our guide, following Jesus only when it is easy and only when it feels good. We will face adversity, we will doubt, we will be shaken up, but we are always with him, and he is always with us. We stand on the truth of God’s word, not transient emotion. Even if you feel alone or abandoned by God, stand on the truth that you are not alone, he is with you in the midst of every storm and every season. His plan remains and he continues to work even when we cannot understand it or see what he is doing. Even though we doubt, he welcomes us into relationship with him, as imperfect as we are.

APPLICATION:
God is gracious, he is all knowing - he is aware of every mistake you will make; past, present, and future, and he still invites you to sit at the table with him. If your storm is big, and it has caused you to take some steps away from him, remember that he is with you in the midst of it and begin to actively seek him again. You’ll find his voice again, you’ll feel his presence again, you’ll see his hand in your life again. 

Looking at the disciples response when they could no longer see Jesus is a comfort, because it reminds us that it is only a human response to stray when we cannot see God anymore. Remember that when we waver, God is firm. When we let go of God, he doesn’t let go of us. When we begin to believe lies, the truth still stands. Take heart in this today.

Scripture
John 20:24-29 NIV
24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the
doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my
side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who
have not seen and yet have believed.”

Devo
At this point in the gospel of John, Jesus has been crucified and has risen. He has revealed
himself to his disciples and others have heard word that he had defeated death. Yet, still there is Thomas, one of the disciples that has walked with Jesus, seen him do miracles and was aware of the prophecies. Yet, still he doubted and said he would not believe unless he saw it for himself, even touched the wounds of Jesus.

We can read this and easily start to shame Thomas for his doubt, we are also quick to doubt God. We doubt that He’s working in our lives, we doubt that His will is better than the plans we make for ourselves, we doubt His goodness, and sometimes we can even doubt our salvation.

But this scripture reminds us of so much truth. Jesus was sent to walk this Earth, live a sinless
life, die on a cross for our sins and rise three days later. Through this he has conquered life and
death and we are invited into that fullness of life, which can only be received by grace through
faith. The death and resurrection of Jesus brings us life, and life eternal. One of the key beliefs of our faith is that we have received grace from a living God. Do we believe and stand firm in that truth today?

Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sin so that we can share in eternal glory with Him in
Heaven. Romans 8:18 says, I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with
the glory that will be revealed in us. This was just as true for Jesus as He was nailed to the cross
as it is for us each day. We all have doubts from time to time but the truth is, we are blessed for
putting our faith in God, for trusting that He is good.

Questions
1. Where have you been experiencing doubt or lack of faith?
2. What are ways we can combat these doubts? What does verse 27 say?
3. In verse 28, Thomas cries out, “My Lord and my God!” - how can you spend time this week in
the word and proclaiming God’s name over the doubt you’re experiencing?

Scripture

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under
heaven given among men by which we must be saved." - Acts 4:12

Devo
Solus Christus means “by Christ alone”, and in this short 3-word phrase we find a truth that makes Christianity distinct from any other religion. As Christians we believe that nothing and no one can save us from our sins but Jesus. No amount of prayers, good deeds, or “I’m sorry’s" will ever be enough. It is only by Jesus’ death on the cross that are our sins forgiven. And it is only by Jesus’ resurrection from the dead that we receive the gift of eternal life. Salvation is only “by Christ alone”. Does this encourage you? Because in all honesty it should. It is good news; the best news!
Jesus said in John 14:6, ““I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Are you looking for a way to get closer to God? It’s only through Jesus. Are you looking for truth in a world full of lies and deception? It’s only in Jesus. Are you looking for a fulfilling life that won’t leave you empty, and broken? It’s only by Jesus.
Jesus alone saves us from death and destruction and offers us new life and redemption. So is your salvation in Christ alone? If not, make today the day.

Questions

1. Why does the belief that salvation is by Christ alone make Christianity unique?
2. What do you look to for salvation other than Jesus? (Relationships, money, fun, etc).
3. What should our lives look like if we believe that salvation is in Jesus alone?
4. How would you explain “by Christ alone” to someone else?

SCRIPTURE:
Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth; Your word is consecrating truth.
 John 17:17

DEVOTIONAL:
As followers of Christ, we have a call on our life to live and love more like Jesus. But, as
humans, we have a tendency to over-complicate things, mess things up, and become distracted
with the ways of the world. We think there is a special recipe for success when it comes to our
faith.
We often know the life we want for ourselves, one that glorifies God, but we think it’s
unobtainable or that there’s a list of requirements we must complete before being welcomed into
Christ’s family. That is far from the truth, for our salvation is by grace through faith. We can find
encouragement that the war of sin and death has already been won through the death and
resurrection of Jesus.
As we read this week’s scripture, we are transported into John 17, where Jesus is praying to God
the Father before he goes to the cross, he’s praying for both believers and non-believers. In John
17:17, Jesus prays that we can be made holy – consecrated – with the truth. He continues by
explaining that God’s word is the consecrating truth that we need. God’s Holy Scripture poured
out in the form of the Bible is ours to read and learn from.
Living a consecrated life and offering ourselves as living sacrifices to God means spending time
in scripture. We often pray for God to reveal His will to us but we aren’t always willing to sit
down and listen to what He’s trying to tell us. We’d be amazed what God could do with our lives
if we listened for His voice as much as we asked to hear it.
We can all think of an example when we’ve spent time in God’s word and little things in that
day or week aligned with what we just learned. Perhaps, when we read a portion of scripture and
it’s quoted at CYA the following week. Sometimes we’ll read scripture and a few days later we
use the same verses to encourage a friend. When we set our eyes on thoughts on things above,
everything changes. Let’s dig deep this week.

APPLICATION:
If you’re not already reading through a book of the Bible, pick one to start going through each
day. Ask a CYA leader if you’re not sure where to start. Try to find time each day to sit down
and read a chapter, but don’t just read. Take note of the following questions:
- who is in the passage?
- what is happening?
- how does this apply to your life?
Share with your CYA group ways you see the scripture you’re reading come to life in the days
and weeks to follow.

Sola Scriptura

Scripture
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17

Devo
Sola Scriptura means “Scripture Alone.” It is the belief that the Bible alone is the Word of God and the only infallible rule of faith and practice. One of the greatest passages on this topic is 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
If these statements are true, then they should inspire us to wrestle through our own view of Scripture. Is the Bible our go-to resource when answering life’s biggest questions, or is it just one of many options out there? The best way to cultivate a Biblical perspective is to spend daily time with God in his Word.
The importance of daily time in the Word can hardly be overstated. As theologians like to point out, right doctrine inspires right living. God’s primary way of speaking to hearts and minds is through his inerrant Word. If we have a true longing to see the world the way God does, then naturally we will long for his guiding voice in our lives. The good news is that God is not silent. His Word is living and active, sharper than a two edged sword (Hebrews 4:12).
So how about you? Is your view of the world rooted and grounded in Scripture? Maybe today is the day to finally embrace Sola Scriputra.

Questions
1. What is the Bible?
2. What is the inerrancy of Scripture?
3. Study the following doctrinal implications. How should they impact the way you live?
(1). The Bible is the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:14-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21).
(2). The Bible is Authoritative (Ephesians 2:19-20, Matthew 5:17-20).
(3). The Bible is Infallible (Psalm 19:7-11).
(4). What the Bible Accomplishes in Hearts will Remain Forever (1 Peter 1:24-25, 1 Peter 2:2-3, Isaiah 55:10-11).
5. How can your group help you make time with God a priority?
 

Scripture:
James 3:8-10 ESV
“but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”


Devotional:
This month we’ve talked about everything from dating and marriage to friendships. It’s appropriate that we find ourselves in the book of James this week because it has a multitude of guidelines on how to treat people. It emphasizes over and over again that the way you speak to people matters, and the way you treat people matters. As God’s people, we are called to be a people of honor, purity, and unity. We are called to put away sinful patterns that tear others down, and instead lift them up with our words and our actions. One way we can do this is by taming the tongue.

As humans, our greatest sense of value is found in the truth that we are made in the image of God and that we are his children. This week’s verse attests to that truth that every human being has value, and this can never be taken away. The problem comes when, as believers, we sit in the judgment seat and begin speaking ill of others based on our perceptions of who they are and what they deserve. The seat of judgment is reserved for God alone, and yet from his place of power, his mercy triumphs over judgment. Just as the stance of God’s heart towards you is to show you grace and defend you when accusations are made against your character, he has that stance for every human being. God holds the stance of grace. As God’s people, as the body of Christ, it is our job to reflect God’s heart of mercy and compassion towards others.

1 Peter 2:1 states that we are to put away all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. These traits have no place in kingdom culture, and although we may find ourselves walking in these sinful patterns, God calls us away from this and into a life of purity, in which we honor those around us in a beautiful and groundbreaking way.

We know what we are not supposed to be - but what about the things we are called to be? We are called to embody the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Consider how many of those qualities are essential in loving others. Another beautiful guideline found in James applies to solving disagreements among one another. James 1:19 says, “be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” When you get into an argument with someone you love, ask the Holy Spirit to help you to follow this guideline through self control and the embodiment of gentleness.

God’s desire for his people is that we would be a people of honor, purity, and unity. How can we embody that if we’re stuck in cycles of gossip, slander, and judgement? Make it your aim to defend others the way God would if he was here. See beyond the surface and realize that no matter what a person does, and no matter how their actions appear, they are still worthy of acceptance, value, love, and they are still worthy of being shown grace. If God - the most holy and perfect being to ever exist - sits in the judgment seat and has every right to condemn, yet shows mercy, then it is our job as flawed human beings to follow that example. As the church, our words should be full of life and blessing, because we are one unified body designed to serve God, each other, and the world around us.

Questions:
Are you convicted of showing judgement towards someone where God shows mercy?
What are some biblical guidelines you try to follow when you get into arguments or disagreements?
Where does your tongue need to be tamed? (gossip, slander, lies, anger, etc.)
Think about the fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control) and consider which of those qualities you want to grow in. Once you’ve chosen one, begin to intentionally pray this week for God to produce that more powerfully within you.
Are there people in your life you need to make amends with? Is there speech coming out of your mouth that needs to stop?

Scripture
Mark 2:2–5
“And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (ESV)

Devo
One the biggest blessing we received form our God is the ability to be relational and being able to have relationships in our lives. However, the important part of having relationships is knowing who to have in your life and who is not good influence in your life. The discernment of knowing who is good and who isn’t is always a struggle in anyone’s life but the truth is that it’s more of a flesh vs spirit battle for the believer. We love to be with people that will tell us yes more often than no, we love to be with people that will go alone with our sin than to correct us when we sin.

In this passage in Mark we see beautiful friendship. The paralyzed man had some amazing friends that knew that he needed help and knew the only one that could help their friend was Jesus. We all need to strive to find friends like the paralyzed man had and be these kinds of friends. When we look at our friendships we need to acknowledge that Jesus is the only one that can help.

This is a good perspective to have in our friendships and acquaintances in ur daily lives. With our co-workers, classmates, barbers and family members. The only one that can help their unbelief is Jesus, he is the only one that can bring healing, salvation and redemption to anyone’s life. Jesus is always the answer. However, much like the paralyzed man’s friends they had to put in a lot of work to get him to Jesus. It will take a lot of effort to bring people to the feet of Jesus.

Questions

1. What kind of friend are you? Do you point people to Jesus in your every day life? How can you better point people towards Jesus that are in your daily life?
2. The men that brought the paralytic in Vs3 – how would you describe them?  What were they doing for their friend?   What does Jesus notice about them in Vs5?  Did their part go beyond just bringing him?
3. Describe the love the friends expressed.Would you go to any lengths to help a friend receive healing?
4. What kind of faith did the paralytic's friends have?How difficult was it to get him up to the roof? [Archaeologists have unearthed Peter's house where this healing may have taken place. The homes had stone stairs built into the side of the house for easy access to the roof. In the evenings, families would sit and talk in the cool of the night.]
5. Why is forgiveness of sin so important to this man's healing? [Since they believed any physical problem was the result of sin, there may have been tremendous fear that he couldn't be healed and guilt that he needed God's forgiveness to survive. Jesus just cut through that red-tape and relieved him not only of his anxiety but his paralysis.]
6. What does this passage teach us about Jesus?

Scripture
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)

As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan dloved him as his own soul. (1Samuel 18:1)

Devo
We have recently been talking about relationships and how sometimes we don’t realize how important it is to have someone in our lives that hold us accountable and love us as their own soul. Jonathan and David had a great friendship that could not be broken by any circumstance or trial. In fact Jonathan actually went against his own father to protect the well being of David.

I believe that we all need a soul tie in our lives, that will be there when we need them but I also believe that we need to be that person to someone too. Someone to share our thoughts and struggles with. An important aspect to knitting of souls is that if you’re a male have soul ties with males and if you’re a female have soul ties with other females. This is important because it starts to mimic echad. When souls are tied together with the opposite sex things start to get awards because it mimics echad.

Echad means “unified one” meaning that you become one with the person you marry through that covenant. When one is married they become one, echad, and their souls are tied forever. Most of us strive to be married and chances are that almost everyone will be, but it is important to know that marriage is sacred.

Let’s strive to be knit to the soul and echad, lets just make sure we distinguish which is which.

Questions
What Qualities would you want in a friend? What qualities would you like in a spouse? Write these down on a piece a paper and share them with the group, then ask yourself if you have those qualities.
Why are friendships so important and why does God emphasize them so much in scripture?
What do you learn about Jonathan’s character from this passage? (Hints: What does he recognize about David’s future? What does he acknowledge about God?)
What could possibly be common ground for these two? What could possibly make Jonathan “love David as himself,” which it states twice just in this passage alone?What is the significance of Jonathan removing his weapons and handing them to David? Is there anything practical that we might take from this example with regard to deepening our friendships? (1 Samuel 18:1-4)
4. Why do you think the Bible records the depth of David and Jonathan’s friendship? What purpose does it serve?

Application
Take some time this week to be a better friend, brother, sister, mother, daughter, son, father to your friends and family. Even to your enemies.

Scripture:
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

Devotional:
It is really easy for us to overlook what is going on in this passage in this verse alone, but if we dig a little deeper within Mark 1, we’ll see that Jesus has started his earthly ministry, He has been casting out impure spirits and healing people. The time He takes between these things is what matters most to us as followers of Christ, we see Him withdraw in solitude to spend time with the Father.
We live busy lives with work, school, our hobbies, and everything else that comes up throughout the week. We find ourselves justifying our time at church or attending small groups as enough time with Jesus but perhaps this is the year that we decide to put our faith first. Perhaps, this is the year that we make more time for Jesus. Jesus was doing amazing things by healing others but even He had to take a break from ministry to be alone and recharge.
This is not a selfish act, if anything when we take time to spend with God, we are doing others a favor. Just as Moses’ face shone when he walked down from the mountain after hearing from God, we too appear different to others after we spend time focusing on our personal relationship with the One who sustains us.
Already this year we’ve discussed how we can sacrifice ourselves to look more like Jesus. We’ve talked about areas of our lives that have too high of a priority. How can we continue to change and improve?
This passage shows us a practical way to live and love more like Jesus by taking care of our soul through solitude and praying to God. It’s never too late for us to make this change. Maybe our New Year’s resolutions have already failed and we’re feeling disheartened but take heart in the ability to be made new and start fresh again.

Questions:

1. How have you already seen God move in your life this year?
2. Where do you feel like you connect best when spending time with God? How can you incorporate it more into your schedule?
3. What do most people consider is a good use of time? What do you consider is a good use of time?
4. How can time in the Word better help you? How does that glorify God?
5. Why is the Word so important? Why do most people neglect Scripture?

Application:
Find time this week to spend alone with God. Whether this be on a walk through nature, tucked away in the corner of your favorite coffee shop, or even on your knees beside your bed. Our Father sees us, hears us, and knows our hearts. Surrender yourself and desire to spend more time with him and watch the way he moves in your life.

Scripture:
1 Timothy‬ 4:8
“...train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

Devotional:
Paul wrote this in a letter to Timothy, who he was mentoring in the faith and in ministry. As the church in today’s age, we often need to be reminded of the same principles that believers throughout all decades were reminded of. 


At its core, this is a reminder to all believers that our values are called to a higher place than the values of the world. Your number one priority should be God - knowing him, seeking him, and ministering his love to the world. Your pursuit of God and your relationship with him is far more valuable than any type of measurable success you can attain in this world. We chase success - and even perfection - in our careers, academics, and physical fitness, as if it was the most important thing. 


The Bible doesn’t label transient things as invaluable; they are of some value, but God is the most important thing. It’s easy to hop onto the value system of the world because it’s all around us, but we’re called to value things differently. Loving God and loving people are the most significant things we will ever do in this life, yet so often, all of our time is devoted to less important things. Look at how you spend your time and that will show you what you truly value. The success we are chasing in this life will not pass onto the next one. When the present life passes away, the only thing that will still be of significance is what we did for the kingdom of heaven.

What kind of eternal impact are you having? Do you live like Jesus is coming back? Are you prioritizing loving God and loving people the way we have been called to? 


This is a value-check, a reality-check, and a priority-check. This is a call to realign our values with God’s values; to take the focus off of the natural, and to refocus on the spiritual, because God wants to bring spiritual significance and an eternal impact to the natural world we live in. We live in a world where so much is transient, but our values should align with what is eternal. (Sharing Jesus. Seeking lost souls. Pouring into the church.)


The comparison of bodily training to godliness reveals three things to us. First, we have the capacity to pursue godliness with the same work ethic that we pursue less important things in our lives. Second, as we pursue godliness, we become fortified against the attacks of the enemy. Lastly, the end goal is of godliness holds insurmountable eternal value in not only this life, but the life to come.

Application:

This week, consider one thing in your life that doesn’t deserve the place in your life that it holds, so that in exchange, God can reclaim that space in your life and begin to work marvelously, to make himself known to both you and the world around you.


discussion questions:

• Share one thing in your life that is taking up too much space.What is one way that you can better prioritize God?
• What is one way that you can start to make a greater eternal impact in the lives of those around you?
• Has the Holy Spirit been asking you to sacrifice something for some time now that you struggle with surrendering?

SCRIPTURE
…day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

- Revelation 4:8

DEVO
Among the many attributes of God, his Holiness seems to stand out more when compared others. Holy is the only attribute seen in Scripture that is elevated to the third degree. R.C Sproul explains that, “only once in sacred Scripture is an attribute of God elevated to the third degree. Only once is a characteristic of God mentioned three times in succession. The Bible says that God is holy, holy, holy. Not that He is merely holy, or even holy, holy. He is holy, holy, holy. The Bible never says that God is love, love, love; or mercy, mercy, mercy; or wrath, wrath, wrath; or justice, justice, justice. It does say that He is holy, holy, holy, that the whole earth is full of His glory.” No other attribute has been repeated three times in succession, which reveals the importance and power of God being holy, holy, holy. God’s holiness reveals just how depraved and fallen we are as humans compared to a perfectly holy God.
Being fallen sinful humans, we can only be saved by something or someone that is the polar opposite of the fallen state in which we live. God’s holiness offers us a perfect example and standard by which to live. God’s holiness convicts the sinner of how detrimental and offensive sin is to a perfectly holy and righteous God, which should compel us to faithfully trust and obey God, not ourselves. The proper response to a perfect and holy God is for us to be obedient to all that Jesus has commanded us. Paul reminds us in Romans 6:16 that our obedience to something makes us a slave to it. So, if we are obedient to sin, we are slaves to sin, which leads to death. But, if we are obedient to Jesus, it will lead to righteousness. “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance.” Believer, God has given you His own Spirit and given you the ability to faithfully obey him in all things.

ACTION / REFLECTION
Define the term “Holy” in your own words. Why is it an important attribute of God?

Can we obey God’s commands partially and still consider ourselves obedient?

What changes can be made this year that would increase your obedience?