The purpose behind today’s post, as well as those that will follow, are about daily discipleship. Some of the things I hope to accomplish are:
- To learn about God.
- To live according to what is learned from reading the daily scripture.
- To be accountable to others by sharing in a public place.
- To encourage readers to share their own reflections, and also to put into practice the topics that are being studied.
Accountability. You will notice that I post these devotional readings annonymously. It is not to avoid being accountable. Please use the comment feature on this page to hold me accountable for what I say. It wouldn’t take much work to discover who I am. I would rather that you spend that effort in focusing on these daily readings. It will benefit you more than trying to discover who I am. I have my reasons for being annonymous, but if it bugs you that much, tell me, and I’ll let you know.
Discipleship and devotional time isn’t about me, it’s about God, and how we grow to know him better, and show evidence of him in our lives.
This upcoming study material is a 31 day course in discipleship titled, The True Vine, by Andrew Murray. I’ll be using snippets from his book, add my own reflections, and leave it up to any readers to contribute comments as well.
Andrew Murray’s book, the True Vine, which is in the public domain, can be read in it’s entirety at:
http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Fellowship/Murray.The.True.Vine.html
The link to the book is off this web site, and is out of my control. The link worked when I posted it, but there’s no promise whether it will continue to be valid.
Please, feel free to download the book. Glance ahead. Read Andrew Murray’s entire commentary. However, try to be sincere in taking time to quietly reflect on the tiny bits of scripture, think about the words, and listen to what God is saying to you, rather than myself or Mr. Murray. Focus on the reading for the day, and no others.
To post a comment, it helps to register first, and log in. Whether you post a comment here or not, jot down a few lines in a personal notebook of your own. You may never show it to anybody else. You may never read it again. Putting a few thoughts in writing can be an excellent excersize in making God’s words to you sink in.
By using Bible study, prayer, and meditating on what God is saying through the word. I, and hopefully you too, will Share what was learned, and live in a transformed way to apply those teachings in the challenges that face us in daily life. That’s what really counts anyway, putting concepts into practice. Not just locking them away in a compartment in your head.
My hope and prayer is that this will be a benefit, not only to myself, but any who read it. Discipleship is an ongoing thing. It doesn’t end because a short course of study is finished. Life goes on, and continues to bring new challenges, trials, and opportunities. Once this study is completed, watch for others.
Now for a few words of introduction by Andrew Murray.
I have felt drawn to try to write what young Christians might easily apprehend, as a help to them to take up that position in which the Christian life must
be a success. It is as if there is not one of the principal temptations and failures of the Christian life that is not met here. The nearness, the all-sufficiency,
the faithfulness of the Lord Jesus, the naturalness, the fruitfulness of a life of faith, are so revealed, that it is as if one could with confidence say,
Let the parable enter into the heart, and all will be right.May the blessed Lord give the blessing. May He teach us to study the mystery of the Vine in the spirit of worship, waiting for God’s own teaching.
Andrew Murray
1828-1917