I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate . . . I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. Romans 7:15, 18b-19 (NLT)
- Judas - “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” Matthew 26:15
- Jesus - “Tonight all of you will desert me.” Matthew 26:31
- Peter - “Even if everyone deserts you, I will never desert you.” Matthew 26:33
- Jesus - “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Matthew 26:38
- While Jesus is being arrested – “. . . one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear.”Matthew 26:51
For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church. But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace. 1 Corinthians 15:9-10(NLT)
Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses. . . For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-10(NLT)
For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. Hebrews 10:10(NLT)
Sanctification: the process of becoming holy.
And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:18b(NLT)
Option #1:Spiritual Apathy . . . “I don’t care”
Action Plan: Subscribe to DriveTime Devotions and listen to Pastor Tom Holladay teach through the Bible for 10 minutes every day. Go toDriveTimeDevotions.comor download the app.
Option #2: Spiritual Acting . . . “I perform or pretend”
“You won’t go wrong in following their teachings . . . But be careful about following them. They talk a good line, but they don’t live it. They don’t take it into their hearts and live it out in their behavior. It’s all spit-and-polish veneer . . . You’re like manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it’s all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh. People look at you and think you’re saints, but beneath the skin you’re total frauds.” Matthew 23:2-3,27-28(Message)
Action Plan: Do you have at least one person that you are completely honest and open with? If not, ask a good, trusted, Christ-following friend for coffee and begin letting them into your “mess”.
Option #3: Spiritual Adventure . . . “I keep following”
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6(NLT)
Action Plan: List your biggest dreams that you’d like to accomplish for God’s glory. Find your next step in that journey and finish a small task this week that brings you closer to that goal.
Doable Discipleship: This week’s episode of the Doable Discipleship podcast takes a look at what it means to love God with all of your mind. To watch or listen,click here.
