Since Jesus became the sacrifice for us, we have to respond to the call to ABCD. This daily devotional reviews our response to Jesus’ call, the instructions He and others gave, the rewards we receive when we accept the Plan of Salvation, and His second coming.
Devotions in the Self-Discipline Review series
All year, we’ve been looking at self-discipline. We looked at self-discipline as the operational plan for self-control because it talked about improvement.
We are reviewing everything and hopefully putting all of the building blocks together. What I am doing is going through all of the devotions for the year and pulling out the nuggets.
I am formatting this as a glossary page. If I already have one, I will combine them later.
Jesus was the sacrificial lamb. He paid the penalty for our sins. That evokes a response from us.
We have to choose to admit our sins, believe Jesus as our Savior and Redeemer, and confess God as Sovereign God. But what does all of that entail?
Our Response to Jesus’ Sacrifice
- Unfortunately, we continue to sin after we admit our sins, believe Jesus to be our Savior and Redeemer and confess God as our Sovereign Lord (What Does It Mean to Walk in the Spirit?).
- We know that Jesus warned that some thinking they have their ticket punched for heaven won’t be admitted (Mt. 7: 21). We have to figure out how to walk in the right way — in the Spirit (What Does It Mean to Walk in the Spirit?).
- Our hearts have to open to allow Jesus to take full residence within them. We lose our first love when we either don’t allow Him full control or we kick Him out after a while (Have We Lost Our First Love?).
- Most of all, we have to watch for Jesus’ return. He is coming back (Watching while Praying).
- When we truly realize that we are unworthy and would be nothing without the saving power of Jesus, then we begin to mature as a disciple (How Do Disciples Mourn?).
- We need to witness so that others come to know Jesus as their personal Savior too. God’s priority will always be His kingdom and our spiritual condition. It will always be about restoring the relationship with us and growing us to where we need to be — righteous (How Are Disciples Merciful?).
- We can’t just give lip service. “Oh, yes. We believe in Jesus” — but then live our lives not imitating Him. We have to live a righteous life (What Are the Fruits of Righteousness?).
- When we react in ways that Jesus would react, we are showing others His character (Goodness as a Virtue).
- We have the tenacity to overcome [add your challenge] because we believe God can work it out and Jesus has rule in our hearts, even though we don’t understand how it can be accomplished. We can because we see what He is calling us to versus where we are if we continue [the challenge]. We choose to have God change us (Temperance as a Virtue).
- Instead of going for man’s praise, Jesus wanted us to be cultivating the fruits of the Spirit (Disciples and Charitableness).
- Jesus was all about two things: relationship and character. He wasn’t about the Pharisees and their brand of religion. What Jesus was about was true religion — how it should be. We were created to worship the Father. We were made to be like Him (Disciples and Charitableness).
- Jesus told His disciple to not be judgmental (The Lenient Judgment of Others).
- We need to keep consistent in God’s laws and commandments so we can be an appropriate dwelling place for Jesus. We do that by soul keeping (How Does Circumspection Help Consistency?).
- We just have to have faith that Jesus’ blood will do what it is supposed to do. It will (Did Jesus or His Blood Redeem Us?).
- Once we approach Jesus for salvation, we are to believe that Jesus intercedes for us. He is presenting us to His Father so that God can forgive us of our sins (How Do We Believe in Jesus?).
- Once we make the decision to put Jesus in the Master and King positions, we start giving Him control of our lives. We start living the way He wants us to live (How Do We Believe in Jesus?).
- When we imitate Jesus, we are brought up to His level. Since we are imitating Jesus, that strengthens our connection with Him. Part of the reason we can be close to Him is because He has already been close to us (Who Is Jesus as God?).
- Our relationship with Jesus should change how we interact with others (The Ministry of Reconciliation).
- Our heart has to be that of Jesus’. Our mind has to be His mind (How Are We Made New Creations?).
- We have to diligently work to imitate Jesus. No, we won’t be perfect. We just have to ask to be forgiven, and then do better at following Him (What Was Jesus’ Mission (Part 2)).
- Providing mankind access to the plan of salvation was the focus of Jesus’ mission. We need to make it the focus of ours (What Was Jesus’ Mission (Part 2)).
See Also
Instructions from Jesus and Others
- Jesus said that the greatest commandment was “… Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Mt. 22: 37 NIV). That is our priority (What Is Obedience?).
- Jesus knew the value of keeping in close contact with God (What Is Prayer?).
- How are we supposed to give thanks to God? “And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5: 20 NLT). It should be through the name of Jesus (Thankfulness in Prayer).
- Imitating Jesus because we love Him takes it out of feeling like a duty (Love and Obedience: The Last Two Steps in Salvation).
- Jesus left some gray areas. We, like Nicodemus, have to approach in faith, not understanding (Born for the Kingdom).
Rewards for Knowing Jesus
- When we admit our sins, believe on Jesus as Redeemer, and confess God as Sovereign Lord, we are forgiven of our sins (How Do We Benefit from Being God’s People?).
- Our joy and blessings come from believing Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer (What Is Obedience?).
- The world was blessed through the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus, a descendant of Abraham (How Do We Benefit from Being God’s People?).
- Jesus knew He was going to be facing His death — and He was talking peace. Well, Jesus knew peace wasn’t dependent on this world’s circumstances. He knew my peace wasn’t based on where I was. Peace was — and is — dependent on our knowing Him as our personal Savior (Thankfulness in Prayer).
- We become children of God when we asked Jesus to become our Lord and Savior (Jn. 1: 12). Our faith makes us heirs of God (Gal. 3: 26). Our inheritance is a reward for doing God’s Will (How Are Disciples Humble?).
- Jesus said those who endured persecution will be rewarded. Do we really think we are going to get through this life with no persecution? Jesus didn’t, so, how can we? We can’t. (How Do Disciples Escape Persecution?).
- When the Bible talks about the tree of life, it is talking about eternal life. We receive that reward when we ABCD (What Are the Fruits of Righteousness?).
- Jesus brought life — eternal life. We have to get our focus off this world and put it onto the new heaven and earth. That means we have to be working the process of sanctification so that we are becoming holy and righteous (Is Peace an Attitude?).
- Disciples are predestined to become the image of Jesus (How Does Predestination Fit In?).
- Only faith in Jesus as our Savior and Redeemer can gain us eternal life (Where Is Jesus?).
See Also
Jesus’ Second Coming
- Jesus was always planning on returning (The Promises of Jesus’ Return).
- Jesus paid the price already. But the transaction hasn’t been closed out yet (What Is the Tribulation?).
- When Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, He set a sunset date on sin’s hold on us. Only God knows when that date is (Why Jesus Became a Man).
- Jesus said that He was coming back, but He didn’t give us a day or time (Mt. 24: 36) (Is Peace an Attitude?)
- When Jesus returns, we will leave business unfinished. We can’t always tie things up in a pretty bow (Leadership Change).
- Jesus is our King. That isn’t waiting for when He returns. It is now (How Do We Believe in Jesus?).
- Those who have chosen Jesus to be their Savior will be given eternal life in heaven rather than eternal death in hell (Will Everyone Have a Judgment Day?).
- Jesus will give life to those who have ABCDed. That is the only criteria He uses. He doesn’t give eternal life on a whim (Will Everyone Have a Judgment Day?).
- It is easy to read Acts 1: 11 to mean Jesus will come back on the clouds because that is how Luke described His ascension (The Promises of Jesus’ Return).
- We shouldn’t get caught up on the how-is-Jesus-going-to-look part (The Promises of Jesus’ Return).
- Jesus won’t be stuck in a manger this time. All of the people of the earth will see Him return (The Promises of Jesus’ Return).
- Jesus will return in power and glory (The Promises of Jesus’ Return).
- So, for us right now — since the date and time aren’t important — what is important is the sanctification road and watching for Jesus’ return (What Is the Tribulation?).
- We know that Jesus’ church will be called together in the end (The Perfection of the Church).
- Jesus said an end-time sign would be increased persecution for the church (Asking for Prayers).
Jesus and the Churchy Words
- Jesus justifies us when we put our lives in His hand (How the Righteousness of God Filters to Us).
- Disciples have peace because Jesus has given it to us (How Are Disciples Peacemakers?).
- When we are living to imitate God, we have peace through Jesus (Rom. 5: 1) (What Are the Fruits of Righteousness?).
- We don’t have righteousness without faith in Jesus (How the Righteousness of God Filters to Us).
- Righteousness is what comes out of being holy, having faith, and loving as Jesus does. Being holy produces the righteousness (What Is the Relationship between Righteousness and Holiness?).
- It is God’s Will that we be sanctified. Jesus provided the means for that to be accomplished. It is through the Spirit’s work that it is completed in us. We are sanctified because of Jesus’ death and resurrection (What Is the Relationship between Righteousness and Sanctification?).
See Also
Jesus is mediator, advocate, intercessor, physician, elder brother, forerunner, king, master, head, high priest, captain, and bridegroom. He us watching over us. We need to watch for His return.
Father God. We choose to have Jesus as our Savior and Redeemer. We choose to imitate Him through our character. Amen.
What do you think?
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