Friday's Bit of Discipleship
Remembering that we were "bought at a price" (1 Corinthians 6:20) and understanding that we now belong to God helps us to see that we can no longer be self-sufficient. Because God "sends me," my life will change: I will not do what I want, but what God wants, in every area of my life.
~ page 33, The Prideful Soul's Guide to Humility, Fontnet/Jones
Discipleship Prayer of Humility
Oh Father God, truly I have been "bought at a price" through Jesus’ life and death. Let me reject self-sufficiency – not because I can’t do it, but because I shouldn’t do it. I am not my own; I am Yours. “Send me," as it were, to do what You want in every area of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
MISSIO DEI Discipleship Point
What is the significance of Confession and Repentance in Receiving and Participating in th MISSIO DEI?
Today we focus on part three: (3) As a prophet sent to unbelieving and wicked Nineveh, Jonah confessed his sin of fleeing; he repented, and being forgiven, carried out God’s mission.
Repentance, which is a change of thinking and behavior, and forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:47) is essential for Christ-followers to participate in the Missio Dei. Treasured people of God must confess their sins – sins of fleeing, sins of disobedience to God’s sending, failures to submit to His authority, sins of apathy, sins of arrogance. Above all, though, believers must receive forgiveness. Are repentance and forgiveness significant in the great sending of God? Yes!
In arrogance, Christians today also can find fault with and dismiss other Christians who are responding to Christ’s sending and who are being used as instruments of God’s mission but are not considered to have pure theology or pure “Lutheran” traditions and liturgy. Christians today can be hindered, detracted from, or outright disobedient to God’s sending by such arrogance.
Distraction by multi-faceted doctrinal pressure points often tragically consumes God’s treasured and sent people. Let it be clear that doctrine can deliberately or by default become central instead of the Gospel, the Christ-centered Missio Dei. In His love, forgiveness, and peace, which transcends all understanding, together with and for the Missio Dei, God necessarily and indeed accompanies the sending with teaching – teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).
(For further study see the Ten Commandments and the Office of the Keys and Confession, Christian Questions with Their Answers, Luther’s Small Catechism.) See the following Scriptures in your bible or on pages 276-280 of The Great Sending book: Leviticus 16:9-10, Matthew 4:17, Luke 9:49-50, Luke 18:9-14, 1 John 1:8-10, Psalm 51:10-12, Joel 2:12-13, Psalm 51:17, Matthew 3:8
Discipleship Prayer
Father God, You extended grace to Jonah is his episode of fleeing from Your call. Extend that grace into our failures as carriers of Your message and mission. Whether we have fled, failed to submit, or allowed apathy or arrogance to interfere...
[admit your personal sin here]…
I ask anew: Forgive me and accompany me as a live in You and for You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Day 2: Friday after Ascension (May 15th)
Theme: Praise
Pray for your friends or family to be awakened to all that they have already received from God in their lives, and all that He offers them in Christ, that they might in turn praise Him.
Did you miss a day or do you want to see all of the prayers together? All of the prayers are available at the end of this week.