MONTHLY DISCIPLE CHALLENGE FOR FEBRUARY 2021
Last month's challenge was to REJOICE in the Lord first thing in the morning and last thing at night, despite our circumstances. How have you been getting on? As we move into a new challenge, why not continue your new practice of rejoicing in the Lord at the beginning and at the end of each day?
We are into February now and for this month’s challenge I want to take you to the story at the end of John 4 where a royal official comes to see Jesus and asks him to heal his son who is at home, on the brink of death. It was a life-or-death situation:
“Jesus simply replied, “Go home. Your son lives.”
The man believed the bare word Jesus spoke and headed home. On his way back, his servants intercepted him and announced, “Your son lives!”
(v51-51 – The Message)
The man took Jesus at his word and acted on it. He believed the bare word Jesus spoke.
This month we are challenged to take Jesus at his BARE WORD.
Each day sit down and read about Jesus in the gospel. If you don’t already do that then I suggest starting with the book of Mark and taking a story at a time.
First, simply ask God to speak to you by his Spirit as you read. Then read it through slowly – two or three times in one sitting. Note what word of phrase jumps out at you and savour it – like sucking a sweet to get all the flavour out of it!
Write the word or short phrase down and begin pondering what God might be saying to you though it. Come back to it throughout the day and consider whether you need to act on this bare word and if so, how.
If nothing jumps out at you when your first read the passage through, don’t worry. If you can, then come back to it again later and read with fresh eyes.
If you still struggle, don’t panic. Keep reading each day – after all you are spending time with Jesus, and that is never a waste of time!
“The man believed the BARE WORD Jesus spoke….”
Let us know how you get on!
