Day 2
Daily Spiritual Habits of Disciples
The lens through which you see yourself filters everything else in your life. Seeing yourself as a disciple first provides you with the proper perspective and priority for every other role you take on–spouse, parent, daughter, employee, leader, etc…
A disciple is a dedicated lifelong follower of Jesus Christ who willingly lays down his or her own life and thoughts in order to take on the life and mind of Christ. Disciples live their lives from their identity unlike others who live in search of identity.
In this world, we are taught to see ourselves in professional or familial roles and titles first. This worldly ranking results in our minds being consumed with all we have to do in a day to fulfill our many roles. We wake up and go to bed thinking about the work we have to do, the errands we have to run, and the tasks we haven’t crossed off our running lists, and as a result our time does not reflect the priority of God in our lives.
Yes, there are roles such as mother, wife, daughter, friend, that are spiritually important, but it’s the priority that is the lesson here. God is clear that there is no person, position, or personal priority that takes precedence over Him. You are a disciple first.
You are also a steward of the time you’re given each day. A steward is someone who is entrusted to care for something that belongs to another. When we think about our days in terms of being God’s steward, it changes the posture, the approach, and the perspective of how we live. Each day God entrusts you with time that you didn’t purchase or earn. The parable of the talents is evidence that God cares deeply about what you do with the things that He gives to you. He expects fruit from what He has given you. He also expects your use of His time to glorify Him. Therefore, as stewards, we must be found faithful with our time each day.
Lesson 1. Centering your identity first as a disciple and second as a faithful steward of your time lays the foundation for keeping Jesus as the first priority in your life.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for allowing me to be your disciple, help me to follow you fully and faithfully in all things. Help me to place and keep you in your proper place of first in my life, in my schedule, in my thoughts, in my days. I want to be a faithful steward of the time you have given me on this earth. Thank you for the gift of time that you give freely each day. Help me to steward your time well today. Let your Word dwell richly within me this day so that I may glorify you, shed light in dark places, and bring glory and honor to your name. I ask in your name, Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scripture
Luke 14:26-27 NKJV “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.“
Matthew 10:37-39 NKJV ”He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.“
Luke 14:33 NKJV ”So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.“
Romans 12:1-2 NKJV ”I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.“
Philippians 2:5 NKJV ”Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 4:2 NKJV ”Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”
Psalms 68:19 NKJV “Blessed be the Lord,Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Selah”
Matthew 25:14-30 NKJV “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his Lord’s money. After a long time the Lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’ “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ “But his Lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’“
I love this as a daily inclusion in prayer since we have to continue to be focused and centered on our identity. So many things around would seek to pull us off center and out of alignment. And part of it we don’t even realize or have a blind spot about…like the one with the one talent. He knew something about the Lord but was out of alignment in relationship. Not understanding self, the gift he had, and more lead to paralyzing fear and worse.