Welcome to Week 40 of A 2020 Prayer Life!
What follows is a series of daily meditations and exercises to help us develop our individual prayer lives. This represents a one-day-at-a-time process. Don't short-circuit the process by reading ahead. Simply read and do each day what is offered for that day.
What follows is a series of daily meditations and exercises to help us develop our individual prayer lives. This represents a one-day-at-a-time process. Don't short-circuit the process by reading ahead. Simply read and do each day what is offered for that day.
September 30
When the Apostle Peter was reflecting back on part of the experience of the Old Testament people of God, he noted this along the way: "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves." (2 Peter 2:1 NASB)
In our contemporary context, we may think in terms of "good teachers" as opposed to "poor teachers." But Peter suggests a different dichotomy. In the church, the issue is not merely about a teacher being more or less interesting, more or less knowledgeable, more or less effective. No, the issue in the church is about whether a teacher is "true" or "false." And Peter is matter-of-fact in assuming that "there will also be false teachers among you."
In your prayer time, talk to your Teacher about Peter's warning.
Are there false teachers in Your Church today?
What is their purpose, their goal?
How can I know whether a teacher in Your Church is "true" or "false"?
In our contemporary context, we may think in terms of "good teachers" as opposed to "poor teachers." But Peter suggests a different dichotomy. In the church, the issue is not merely about a teacher being more or less interesting, more or less knowledgeable, more or less effective. No, the issue in the church is about whether a teacher is "true" or "false." And Peter is matter-of-fact in assuming that "there will also be false teachers among you."
In your prayer time, talk to your Teacher about Peter's warning.
Are there false teachers in Your Church today?
What is their purpose, their goal?
How can I know whether a teacher in Your Church is "true" or "false"?
October 1
When Jesus was teaching His disciples what life was to be like among them, He said along the way, "But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren." (Matthew 23:8 NKJV)
Clearly the anecdotal evidence we have in the New Testament shows that there were teachers in the early church -- indeed, that it was regarded as a one of the Spirit-empowered roles in the church (see 1 Corinthians 12:28-29, Ephesians 4:11). Yet Jesus was making it clear that there was to be no unwholesome hierarchy among His followers. For in the end, they all had one Teacher, and they were all equals as His students.
Talk with the Lord about this teaching of His:
Clearly the anecdotal evidence we have in the New Testament shows that there were teachers in the early church -- indeed, that it was regarded as a one of the Spirit-empowered roles in the church (see 1 Corinthians 12:28-29, Ephesians 4:11). Yet Jesus was making it clear that there was to be no unwholesome hierarchy among His followers. For in the end, they all had one Teacher, and they were all equals as His students.
Talk with the Lord about this teaching of His:
- what it reveals about Him
- what it means for His Church
- what it means for our common relationship with Him
- what it means for our relationship with one another
October 2
Combine Peter's warning about false teachers with Jesus' word about "One is your Teacher."
Talk with the Lord about how He and His teachings serve as your guard against false teachers and false teachings.
Talk with Him about the implication of Him being a "true" teacher -- that you can rely on Him to tell you the truth -- and what that means both for your relationship with Him and for how you live your life.
Talk with the Lord about how He and His teachings serve as your guard against false teachers and false teachings.
Talk with Him about the implication of Him being a "true" teacher -- that you can rely on Him to tell you the truth -- and what that means both for your relationship with Him and for how you live your life.
October 3
Jesus' final instruction to His disciples, sometimes known as the Great Commission, says this: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV)
It seems that "teaching" is central to the act of making disciples. Talk with the Lord about that principle. Ask these questions of Him:
It seems that "teaching" is central to the act of making disciples. Talk with the Lord about that principle. Ask these questions of Him:
- Why is teaching essential to making and becoming a disciple?
- What role has teaching played in my spiritual journey?
- Am I one of Your disciples?
- Am I to make others Your disciples?
- Who am I supposed to teach, and what do You want me to teach them?
October 4
One day, Jesus told His followers, "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become as his teacher, and the slave as his master." (Matthew 10:24-25 NASB)
We observe that, just as "slave" and "master" are counterpart titles, so are "disciple" and "teacher."
Talk with the Lord about the disciple's goal to be like his Teacher.
We observe that, just as "slave" and "master" are counterpart titles, so are "disciple" and "teacher."
Talk with the Lord about the disciple's goal to be like his Teacher.
- Do I think of this as my goal -- to be like You?
- If not, why not?
- How does a disciple become like his or her teacher?
- What does it look like for me to become like You?
October 5
"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become as his teacher, and the slave as his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!" (Matthew 10:24-25 NASB)
When Jesus fleshes out the principle of a disciple becoming like his teacher and a slave becoming like his master, He includes the phenomenon of being treated the same way that one's teacher/master is treated.
Make a list of the things that come to mind when you think about what Jesus experienced in His earthly life.
Talk with the Lord about that list. To what extent have you been treated the same way? To what extent have you experienced some of the same things? To what extent have you tried to avoid being treated the same way? To what extent are you truly willing to be like your Teacher?
When Jesus fleshes out the principle of a disciple becoming like his teacher and a slave becoming like his master, He includes the phenomenon of being treated the same way that one's teacher/master is treated.
Make a list of the things that come to mind when you think about what Jesus experienced in His earthly life.
Talk with the Lord about that list. To what extent have you been treated the same way? To what extent have you experienced some of the same things? To what extent have you tried to avoid being treated the same way? To what extent are you truly willing to be like your Teacher?
October 6
As we conclude Week 40, we turn our attention to a portion of John's account of Easter Sunday:
"But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' She said to them, 'Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.' When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?' Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, 'Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.' Jesus said to her, 'Mary!' She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, 'Rabboni!' (which means, Teacher)." (John 20:11-16 NASB)
In your prayer time just now, meditate on that moment and its meaning.
What do you imagine Mary was feeling as she came to the tomb that morning?
What was she feeling as she stood outside the tomb?
What did she think of the angels' presence and words?
What do you hear in Jesus' voice as He calls Mary's name?
What is the meaning and beauty in the moment of Mary first realizing that Jesus is alive and responding by calling Him, "Rabbi" (Teacher)?
"But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' She said to them, 'Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.' When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?' Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, 'Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.' Jesus said to her, 'Mary!' She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, 'Rabboni!' (which means, Teacher)." (John 20:11-16 NASB)
In your prayer time just now, meditate on that moment and its meaning.
What do you imagine Mary was feeling as she came to the tomb that morning?
What was she feeling as she stood outside the tomb?
What did she think of the angels' presence and words?
What do you hear in Jesus' voice as He calls Mary's name?
What is the meaning and beauty in the moment of Mary first realizing that Jesus is alive and responding by calling Him, "Rabbi" (Teacher)?