Becoming Like Jesus: Scripture MemorizationSample

Worthy of the Calling

Pray…

Lord Jesus, I want to encounter you in these words. Don’t let me turn this into a time of going through the motions or checking off a list. Create a desire in me to be in your presence and to be confronted by your truth. Shape me. Form me. Remake me to be more like you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Read…

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1-6 NIV

Consider…

All of us have been called by God. Collectively, we’ve been called to repent of our sins and believe in Jesus. Through that repentance and belief, we are welcomed into God’s Kingdom as citizens of heaven. Individually, we have all been given a calling from God to play a part in His plans to rescue and restore the world. In both, God wants us to demonstrate what the way of Jesus could and should look like to the world around us. It’s a way defined by humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and unity.

If someone were to describe the way you live, would they use the words above? Why or why not? What words would they use? What things could you do differently to better show others what walking with Jesus is all about? Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the power to follow Jesus faithfully, and the courage to confront your own sinfulness and selfishness.

Practice…

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.1 Peter 2:9-10 NIV

On this last day for this week, write these verses out one more time on a sheet of paper, in your journal, or on a notecard. Read them out loud a few times. Then, close your eyes, ask God for His help, and do your best to recite the memory verse without looking.

How’d you do? If you haven’t gotten it completely memorized, don’t beat yourself up! The goal of this journey isn’t to collect a whole bunch of Bible verses, but to commit ourselves to the practice of allowing God’s words to become our words. If you’ve made it this far, pat yourself on the back and celebrate the commitment and consistency you’ve demonstrated! It’s a big deal and God absolutely uses it!

Listen…

Set a timer for five minutes.

Find a quiet place and get alone with God. Maybe it’s outside, in your bedroom, or in your car. Just be still and listen to what God may be saying to you.

Ask Him to speak.

When you get distracted from your listening, come back to Jesus by meditating on your memory verse. Ask the Holy Spirit to change you to look more like Jesus today.