Leader Reminder: A devotional should take less than 10 minutes and drive home one main point. Be sure to practice before you lead a devotional. To create your own biblical devotional, click HERE for help. If this is a discussion-oriented devotional, correct answers appear in <these brackets>. ©2011 Rev. Douglas W. Merkey
Main Point: By marveling at Jesus, we too exude grace and truth
MARK 10:17 As he was starting out on a trip, a man came running up to Jesus, knelt down, and asked, "Good Teacher, what should I do to get eternal life?" 18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked. "Only God is truly good. 19 But as for your question, you know the commandments: 'Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not testify falsely. Do not cheat. Honor your father and mother.'" 20 "Teacher," the man replied, "I've obeyed all these commandments since I was a child." 21 Jesus felt genuine love for this man as he looked at him. "You lack only one thing," he told him. "Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22 At this, the man's face fell, and he went sadly away because he had many possessions. [NLT]
Explain
- More than merely an example, we read how Jesus exuded grace and truth with this man.
- Jesus exuded truth (e.g. facts, law) in vv. 18, 19, and 21b
- Jesus exuded grace (e.g. unmerited favor and feelings of genuine love) in v. 21a in His response to the man’s uninformed response in to Jesus’ recitation of commands in v. 19. Note that Jesus did not clobber the man for his stupid response – stupid because the man actually thought he’d obeyed God’s commandments since he was a child.
- Jesus exuded grace and truth to this man.
- This same Jesus will exude this same balance of grace and truth through us as we yield to Him and abide in Him.
Illustrate
- Come up with your own illustration of when you experienced grace and truth from someone
- My old mentor, Bob, always exuded grace and truth to me. When I met with him, the first thing he’d do is say, “How’d Doug?” with a big smile on his face. He’d grab me and give me a warm hug and we’d sit down and begin sharing. I felt safe with Bob. I knew he really cared for me. So, when he had to tell me the truth and point out my errors, I could really hear his words. Bob exuded grace and truth, kindness and facts, because he had a vibrant relationship with the Prince of Grace and Truth, Jesus.
Apply/Discuss (as many as you have time for)
- As a Life Team made up of Christians, we must understand that it’s this Jesus who lives in us and who wants to exude grace and truth through us. We need to abide in Christ so we can bear this variety of fruit, especially to those who hold an ignorant or opposing viewpoint in the life arena.
- In the plans and programs we discuss tonight, let’s be sure to consider whether they’re exuding grace and truth.
- Describe a time/situation where you exuded truth without grace to someone.
- Describe a time/situation where you exuded grace without truth to someone.
- Describe a time/situation where you exuded grace and truth to someone.
- Describe a time/situation where someone exuded truth without grace to you.
- Describe a time/situation where someone exuded grace without truth to you.
- Describe a time/situation where someone exuded grace and truth to you.