Day 1- HOLD ON TIGHT

In Jeremiah’s time, Israel had every reason to serve God, but they chose to serve other gods and idols. They had become servants to evil things. Today you are going to read a true story where God asked one of His servants to do something that seemed crazy. God wanted to teach a man named Jeremiah an important lesson.
Read Jeremiah 13:1-8
What did God ask Jeremiah to go buy? A waistband was made out of linen and it was a modern day belt. What was the first thing God wanted Jeremiah to do with it?
Jeremiah lived around Jerusalem, but where did God want Jeremiah to take the waistband?
After many days what did God ask Jeremiah to do?
What had happened to the waistband? What did God say about the waistband?

Day 2- HAVE CRAZY OBEDIENCE

Today you are going to take a closer look at the story of Jeremiah that you read yesterday. The lesson from God was that to serve Him you must cling to Him. God is teaching you a lesson through Jeremiah’s example.
Read Jeremiah 13:1-8 one more time
Do you think Jeremiah might have been confused why God was asking him to do something weird? Did Jeremiah obey God every time He asked him to do something?
Did Jeremiah understand why God was asking him to do it? (hint: look closely. God didn’t tell Jeremiah “why” until the end.
Jeremiah lived around Jeruselem and God asked him to go to the Euphrates River 500 miles away. There were no cars or airplanes then so he would have walked or ridden a donkey. Needless to say, his trip would have taken 3 months one way. God asked Jermiah to go two times. He walked or rode about 2000 miles. Jeremiah had no clue why God was asking him to do anything, but he was willing to travel thousands of miles to do what seemed crazy!
Read John 14:15
Do you think Jeremiah loved and trusted God? What can you learn from his obedience?
How did Jeremiah prove he was a bondservant? Do you trust God with whatever He asks?
A true servant is obedient no matter what His master asks of him. This is why you must love God first. True love creates trust. Because Jeremiah loved and trusted God, He used him in mighty ways.

Day 3- MAKE A SACRIFICE

Today’s story is about one of God’s servants who was asked to make a sacrifice… a big one.
Read Genesis 22:1-14
What did God ask Abraham to do? Was Abraham willing to sacrifice his son?
Did Abraham trust God with the thing he loved most?
Did Abraham prove to be a faithful servant?
God tested Abraham to see if he truly was God’s servant. God showed us that Abraham was extremely faithful to God.
Read Philippians 3:8. Do you count all things loss compared to Christ?
Is there anything that you would not give up if God asked you to? Why not?
What is important about the one thing that is hard to give up? Is it more important than knowing Christ?
Abraham teaches us that a faithful servant is willing to make huge sacrifices for God. God’s specific test of Abraham sacrificing his son was a one-time thing. God may not ask the same of you, BUT He will challenge you to give up the things in your life that are not in His plan for you.

Abraham had his son on the altar and God yelled “stop!” and provided a ram to be sacrificed. Abraham didn’t have to put his son to death because God provided the sacrifice. Did you know thousands of years later… on that very same mountain, God provided the ultimate sacrifice through Jesus? God’s plan was never for Abraham to kill his son. His plan was to put to death His Son, Jesus, so all men could be free once and for all.

Day 4- BE DIFFERENT

If you have read anything about Paul, you will know that he was, at one time, a pretty evil dude. He hated Christians so much he persecuted and sometimes killed them. Today you are going to read the true story about how Paul (once known as Saul) decided to believe in Jesus and become God’s servant.
Read Acts 9:1-31
Take notes of all that you learn about what Saul (Paul) was like before and after he met Jesus. What are some ways that Saul responded to his change?
Paul had a serious life changing experience. He went from killing people who shared Jesus to preaching Jesus boldly. Paul is another example of someone who was a bondservant for Jesus. He was living life his own way but when God changed him his life, he got after it for Jesus.
Read Romans 1:1
What does Paul say that He is “set apart” for?
What do you learn from Paul’s transformation? Think through these questions and then go back and insert YOUR name in them and answer them again.
How did Jesus change Paul? Did Paul believe in Jesus?
Did Paul think Jesus was worth changing everything?
What did Paul have to sacrifice? How did Paul serve God? How did Paul serve others?

Day 5- JUST DO IT

If you have joy in your heart because of Jesus, then it’s time for you to step into the role as bondservant. It’s time for action.
Read James 1:22
What does God call you to do? As you learn all the ways you can be a servant-hearted follower of Christ, you must never ever forget why you are serving.
Read 1 Peter 4:11. Are you ready to serve? If it’s yes, write down why.

HOW WAS JESUS A SERVANT?