Day 23 (on Day 26)

There are a lot of times when I hear young people (and older people) say that they wouldn't do "this" or "that" or say "this" or "that" (usually in reference to swearing) in a "church" or a "holy place". But when we remember from Day 22 that we, ourselves, are the Living God's Holy dwelling place that he is creating and forming that changes things. Now it's no longer, I can do certain things certain places but instead, I have to live a certain way everywhere and anytime. So with that, the next couple of days we are going to focus on the changes that need to take place in us if we're following Christ. Some of it will involve language, some of it will involve attitudes, some of it will involve actions- all of it will involve change.

Take some time to thank the Living God for what he's doing and ask him to reveal an area or two in your life that you need transformed in...

Check out 2 Peter 1:3-11; James 3-4; Titus 2:11-14

1. What are we promised in 2 Peter 1:3-4 (there are a couple of promises that are related to one another)?
2. Verse 5 begins with "For this very reason..." For what reason should we work on verses 5-11? (hint: check out the end of verse 4 for the two reasons).
3. What are the 8 things we are to add to our lives in this passage? How do you think we go about adding them?
4. If you begin to add and possess those qualities, what will happen according to verse 8? What might we do if we don't add those things? What could happen as a result of that according to verse 10?
5. So should we begin with just trying to love everyone? If not, where should we begin going off of this passage?
6. James 3-4 is a loaded passage. Read through it 2 more times.
7. What is the hardest thing for us to control? Do you struggle with controlling it? Do you know people that say they're followers of Jesus but they "praise our Lord and Father, and with it [they] curse men"? Do you struggle with that sometimes. (and cursing men doesn't just mean using swear words, it means cutting people down with your words).
8. What are we called to do in chapter 4:7-10? How can we do that? How can you do that today?
9. Have you ever submitted to the Living God? When was the last time you did? We should strive to live every moment in submission to the Living God because that's part of abiding in Him (remember John 15 and the vine analogy)...
10. What does the "grace of God" do for us/to us in this passage from Titus? It's more than just forgiveness right? What is it in addition to forgiveness?
11. What is he redeeming us and purifying us for according to verse 14?

Ask the Living God to give you more of his grace to purify and strengthen you to do "good" today to people. Think of some specific things you could do today and tomorrow before your parents, teachers, or friends ask you to...