Gospel Rooted | Day by Day

MONDAY

---

 

Who is God? Jesus is the way, truth, and life.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.  And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” – John 14:1-7

There are many ways we can live our life but only one is true and only one leads to life and life eternal. This is the way of Jesus. Jesus always demonstrated the right way to act, live, and respond; He always only spoke the truth and He lived life to its fullest. But He not only demonstrates these things, He IS these things. Jesus is the Way to the heavenly Father. He is Truth within Himself. He is LIFE and LIFE ETERNAL and abundant. All other ways fail us. Anything or anyone that contradicts Jesus or His teachings is a lie. Only He gives eternal and abundant life because He is life.

Reflect:

Take ten minutes or longer to let this truth settle into your heart. What might God be trying to teach you by reminding you that He is the way, and the truth, and the life?

Respond:

Who or what are you tempted to look to for the way, truth or life outside of Jesus? What would be different about your day to day life if you grew in trusting that Jesus and only Jesus was the way, the truth, and the life? Pray that God would help you trust this truth!

 

TUESDAY

---

 

What has He done? Jesus lived our life.

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. For the Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life. – John 5:19-24

Yesterday, we let our hearts listen to the truth that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and that only He can bring us to our Heavenly Father! Today, we want to look at the good news that Jesus lived a perfect life. He always obeyed God the Father and walked in the Father’s ways all of the time every time. He lived a sinless life both in action and attitude. He did this both as an example for us, showing us the way, truth, and life, but He also did this as a substitute for us. He lived the life we could not live and did it for us! Praise be to God!

Reflect:

Take ten minutes or longer to let this truth settle into your heart. Why is it good news to you today that Jesus is the way to the Father?

Respond:

Write down in a journal all that you are hearing and learning from the Lord, and some next steps for how to live it out.

 

WEDNESDAY

---

 

Who are we? We are followers of Jesus.

Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. – Matthew 4:19

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. – 1 Corinthians 11:1

This week we have been learning that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Because Jesus is THE WAY, this means we are followers! In a world where everyone is battling to lead, we follow. We set aside our ways and what we think is true, and we submit to the ways of Jesus. Jesus invited His first disciples to “follow Him” and He would transform them into something – fishers of men. To be a disciple is to follow Jesus, be changed by Jesus, and help others follow Jesus. As Christians, this is our life’s calling. We are followers. The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthian church gives us insight into Christian leadership – it is an illusion. Paul, this incredible Christian leader, invites the church to imitate or follow him, a major leadership statement, then he gives it away and says as he “imitates and follows Jesus.” Christian leaders are really just followers. They are ones who follow Jesus so closely and passionately that it leaves the illusion that they are leading, but really, they are just leading in following! As we lead by following Jesus, we are transformed by His truth and love into the type of men and women that build a legacy of truth and love by helping others follow Jesus!

Reflect:

Take ten minutes or longer to let this truth settle into your heart. How is your view of leadership shifting as you view it through the lens of following? What might God be trying to teach you by reminding you that you are a follower before you are a leader?

Respond:

Pray and ask God to reveal areas of your life where you are most prone to forget that you are a follower of Jesus. What are some areas that you now will live differently knowing that you are a follower? Write down in a journal all that you are hearing and learning from the Lord, and some next steps for how to live it out.

 

THURSDAY

---

True Response: Walk in humility.

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. – Proverbs 16:2

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. – James 4:6-10

I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. – Ephesians 4:1-3

This week we have meditated on the truth that Jesus is the way and we are followers. We respond to this truth with humility. We surrender our opinions and submit our stubbornness to Jesus and His love. We turn from pridefully believing that we are the way, the truth, and the life and we joyfully follow the One who truly is! We are learning to turn from our selfish ways, and learning to treat one another with humility and gentleness, walking in our relationships in a Jesus way.

Reflect:

Take ten minutes or longer to let this truth settle into your heart. Where are you tempted to be stubborn or prideful with the Lord? With others?  What have you learned this week? Which specific truths from the devotional or other times with God seem to be coming up repeatedly?

Respond:

How is God calling you to trust and obey Him in light of these truths? Is there someone you could share this with, or a friend who could help you? Or perhaps there’s a different next step? If so, follow Jesus, as His truth will set you free!

 

FRIDAY

---

 

True Gratitude: Rejoice in the Lord!

Memorization:

Once again, we will focus on the passage below as we grow in practicing thanksgiving, contentment, and celebration. It is a beautiful passage and this is a great opportunity to practice memorization.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:4-9

Today we rejoice in all the truth and promises we learned, received, heard, and saw in Jesus this week! We give thanks for the truth of God, the gospel, our new identity, and the freedom to trust and obey the One who gives life.

Thanksgiving & Adoration:

Take time today to think of all you have to thank God for and thank Him for it. Write these in your journal, pray them out loud, and praise Him for the truths that have transformed you even this week!