Jumpstart: A Dispensational Devotional | Imitating Men of God

May we be…

(1) like Abel, pursuing righteous works:

Not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous (1 John 3:12).

(2) like Enoch, walking in daily fellowship with the Lord:

By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (6) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:5-6).

(3) like Job, being patient and faithful even in the most difficult situations:

Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord; that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful (James 5:11).

(4) like Abraham, trusting God even when the promises of God seem impossible:

And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. (20) He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, (21) and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform (Romans 4:19-21).

(5) like Joseph, turning his back on all evil advances:

And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” (8) But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. (9) “There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (10) So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her. (11) But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, (12) that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside (Genesis 39:7-12).

(6) like Moses, choosing to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than enjoy the

pleasures of sin for a season:

Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, (26) esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward (Hebrews 11:25-26).

(7) like Caleb and Joshua, following the LORD wholly:

Except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the LORD (Numbers 32:12).

(8) like Jonathan, realizing that when the LORD is on your side you are never

outnumbered:

Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few” (1 Samuel 14:6).

(9) like David, encouraging himself and strengthening himself in the LORD his God:

Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God (1 Samuel 30:6).

(10)  like Nehemiah, praying without ceasing:

Then the king said to me, “What do you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. (5) And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it” (Nehemiah 2:4-5).

(11)  like Simeon, eagerly looking for the Lord’s coming:

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him (Luke 2:25).

(12)  like Andrew, striving to lead my brother to Christ:

One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.(41) He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). (42) And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone)(John 1:40-42).

(13)  like Peter, reaffirming his love to Christ after serious personal failure:

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” (16) He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”(17) He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep” (John 21:15-17).

(14)  like Paul, not counting his own life dear (precious) unto himself, so that he might

finish his course with joy:

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24).