SG6 - "Total DEVOTE-ion" Rom. 12:10-13

Renew: Transforming Our Life in Christ

Total Devotion '17 - '18

Hello TDers! It was fun spending time with you on Friday, looking at His Word together. God is our Heavenly Father who desires for us to all draw near to Him. He defines for us what love should look like and how we are supposed to think and behave as His children. We all have a long ways to go, but it is the only worthwhile pursuit for us to have – learning how to love Him and love others. Let us help each other in our journeys….Love in Him, Sandra

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.” Romans 12:10-13

  1. After dedicating ourselves to Him (Romans 12:1-2) and looking at ourselves with “sound judgment” (Romans 12:3), we turn to how we should treat each other. Since this is a progressive step-by-step process, how do you think you are doing in the first 2 steps that I just mentioned above? Have you experienced the freedom of letting God be your Lord and Master? Can you name 3 strong points and 3 weak points about yourself?
  1. As we looked at the word “devoted” in Greek, we saw that it was “philostorgos” which means:

the mutual love of parents and children and wives and husbands

loving affection, prone to love, loving tenderly

chiefly of the reciprocal tenderness of parents and children

Learning this kind of love should start at home. As Rebecca shared with us about the “less than ideal” dysfunctional family of Jacob, as well as how I shared about the problems that Arthur and I encounter, I think we can agree that it is nearly impossible to not encounter offenses/conflict with another person! God definitely needs to be the ONE that we turn toto redeem our hearts and circumstances. What are some things that you are working through in your relationships with your family members at home?

  1. In Ezekiel 11:19,20 God says, “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” It is impossible for us to do God’s will without having a heart transplant. Without having a new heart put in us, we are dead to the things of the Lord and have NO POWER to walk in the Spirit and love God. Have you asked God to put a new heart in you?
  1. There are many signs of having a new heart in you:

-you have a love for God’s Word

-you desire to please Him and do His will

-you cling and pray to God as a child who is inseparable with his/her mother or father(consider Hannah with Kathy/Robert)

-you proactively love others

Which of these signs are not being displayed in your life?

  1. As I pointed out on Friday, JOY is…………..Jesus, Others, You … in that order! If you want to experience LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF-CONTROL (the fruit of the Spirit in Gal. 5:22-23), you must be walking in the Spirit (i.e. walking to the beat of your new transplanted heart). If you are pursuing a relationship apart from the Lord, it looks like “OY” (an expression of dismay or disgust). If you are only living for Y (yourself), you should ask yourself, WHY? It is so futile, lonely, and fruitless. What areas of your life need to be put back in the right order of JESUS, OTHERS, YOU?