Discipleship Point
Malachi 2:13-16
13 Another thing you do: You flood the Lord’s altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer looks with favor on your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. 14 You ask, “Why?” It is because the Lord is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.
15 Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.
16 “The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,” says the Lord Almighty.
So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.
Pondering Point
Sphere 3: Relationships at Home:
Jim Putman’s book DiscipleShift describes four areas of growth for disciples: With God Himself, with His church family, in your home life, and in the world.
Chapters 5-6 of Ephesians include a focus on personal family: What a home life should look like in terms of wife/husband and parents/child relationships.
This area can often go neglected, can be highly sensitive for us, and can look radically different from the rest of our lives. But the Spirit wants to influence every part of our lives, including our homes. Let’s pray that He does just that.
Discipleship Prayer
Father God, lead me to willingly submit my home and my home life to Your will. Bless specifically the relationships I share under my roof. Let my home life bring honor to You, Father God, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 119: Immersed in the Word of God
Psalm 119:169-176 22nd letter: Taw (ת)
- May my cry come before you, Lord;
give me understanding according to your word. - May my supplication come before you;
deliver me according to your promise. - May my lips overflow with praise,
for you teach me your decrees. - May my tongue sing of your word,
for all your commands are righteous. - May your hand be ready to help me,
for I have chosen your precepts. - I long for your salvation, Lord,
and your law gives me delight. - Let me live that I may praise you,
and may your laws sustain me. - I have strayed like a lost sheep.
Seek your servant,
for I have not forgotten your commands.
Read the verses of the Psalm.
Mark the words or phrases that catch your attention.
Meditate: talk (or better, write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect responses.
Teaching or Command of God
Matthew 9:13
Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
The Promise
Romans 8:1-2
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Pondering Point
What are you living for? Seriously – what gets you up in the morning? Who are you living for? What sustains you day-to-day, inspires you, or keeps you going?