Introduction

                                          For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3

This book is about the journey of a disciple of Jesus Christ. It is about my journey and may also be about yours if you seek to follow Jesus after receiving Him as Savior. Although our paths won’t be identical, there will be similarities. This book came into being because I sensed the Lord wanted me to share some things I have learned along the way and continue to relearn because they may help you on your journey. We all have the same destination: to become more like Jesus and to be drawn closer to His heart. If you want to find out more about how I began my journey or how you can begin yours, I invite you to read How I Became a Christian in the appendix.

Before we begin our journey, we must realize no matter how well-intentioned, our own efforts cannot bridge the gap that separates us from God. God draws us to Himself and offers the gift of faith in Christ as we trust in Him and His finished work on the cross. Then He gives us a new life that pleases Him: We share in the resurrection life of Jesus Christ and leave our old life behind. As we enter into this new life, we learn to walk by faith depending on God to lead and empower us. When we walk in union with Christ, trusting Him, obeying God is not difficult. Our challenge is to get to the point where we completely trust Him in all that we do.

To the natural mind, the true Christian life makes no sense. It is not burdensome (1 John 5:3) but without God, it is impossible (John 3:5-6). Because Jesus paid it all, it cost us nothing (John 3:16). But following Jesus will require us to lay down the life we once had and surrender control of our life to Him (Luke 14:25-33). When we give our life to Jesus, He gives us so much more than what we left behind (Matthew 19:27-29).

The problem is we do not want to let go of what we have to possess what we do not see and cannot control. It is like trying to take a bone out of the mouth of a hungry bulldog. You do it at your own risk! The best way is to offer him a nice juicy steak. Then he will gladly let go of that old bone. Our natural mind does not see that nice juicy steak of a new life in Christ. We must perceive it by faith. The natural man wants to hold on to that old life, like the bulldog with only a bone. The Christian life makes no sense to the natural man.

Because of the nature of life and its trials, and the testing of our faith with its setbacks, there is no easy road to Christian maturity. It doesn’t just happen. Salvation is a gift but becoming a disciple requires surrendering to Jesus. The process of surrendering does not happen all at once but is usually done in small incremental steps as we learn to trust Jesus incrementally. He promises to give us grace as we need it so we can pass through the trials successfully. Without having a faith-vision, we are like that old bulldog and just want to hang on to what we have. Growing as a Christian goes hand-in-hand with renewing our minds, a process necessary for maturity.

A disciple must be willing to deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24). Those who respond to the call will find He is more than they had ever dreamed. Those who persevere in following Jesus and overcome through God’s grace will find the reward is well worth the cost. I hope you are among them. If so, A Disciple’s Journey was designed with you in mind to help you along the way. You can return to it any time you want to be refreshed in its concepts or motivated to develop additional godly habits.

Welcome to Volume I of A Disciple’s Journey: 26 Devotional Studies to Draw You Closer to Jesus. We are each on our own journey with God. There are signposts along the way to help guide us and let us know we are on the right path to Christian maturity. We will be deepening our personal walk with the Lord and interacting with other Christians as we take up the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). This book provides help to understand and overcome the challenges we will all face. It will not replace one-on-one or small group discipleship and assumes a basic knowledge of the Bible. Volume I focuses more on your personal walk with the Lord and can be done individually or in a group setting. Volume II will focus more on one-on-one and small group discipleship.

This book does not provide a course in systematic theology or a complete foundation for the Christian. However, it does address foundational areas for discipleship in an interactive way. A Disciple’s Journey was designed to help you partner with the Lord to build and strengthen character qualities that move you closer to Him. I hope you find the devotional studies both inspiring and enlightening. They have come through a life of many ups and downs from someone first introduced to the Lord almost fifty years ago.

There are different ways of approaching these devotional studies. Some may benefit by first reading the devotionals to get an overview and then returning to do the studies at a pace and order of their own choosing. Those who benefit the most will have read the devotionals, answered the questions, and formed new habits. Ideally, they will have formed twenty-six new habits to celebrate as they progress along the road to Christian maturity. Others will be successful in forming a few new habits that draw them closer to Jesus. If you continue on the journey, you have not failed regardless of your level of success. Then we can celebrate our success together!

Experts say it takes twenty-one days to establish a habit. A Disciple’s Journey was designed with this in mind. Each volume contains twenty-six devotionals with the corresponding Pray, Study, Meditate, and Do sections and is designed to be completed in a year. Doing the devotional studies without developing new character habits can be done in much less time and should be beneficial but would defeat their primary purpose.

Each study is designed to take two weeks and may require an average of half an hour or more per day to complete with excellence. The first week can be used for reading the devotional; interacting with the Lord through prayer and meditation; answering the questions where Scripture references are provided; identifying the change to make into a new habit, and continuing to form the habit identified in the previous devotional. During the second week, you should focus on developing the new habit while establishing the previous one. You will also delve deeper into the subject of the devotional through answering questions that require researching the Scriptures on your own.

Doing the research questions should increase your understanding and deepen your foundation. As you see the importance of these character qualities, it should strengthen your resolve for developing them. Seeking the Lord to identify and establish desirable character qualities while partnering with Him is essential. Remember, depending on the Lord’s strength and following His leading is the key to discipleship.

There are 323 exercises, some with multiple questions. Answers will be personalized and some may require several paragraphs. Recording your answers and tracking your progress in making the desired character changes will ensure you get the most benefit from these studies. See How to Track Your Progress in the next section for a suggestion. I also recommend recording your answers electronically or in a notebook since sufficient space is not provided here. You can explore the recommended resources that interest you at any time.

                                                            Each godly character trait you turn into a habit brings you one step closer to total intimacy with Jesus.

What Others Are Saying about A Disciple's Journey

As a devotional, A Disciple’s Journey is a must read for those desiring to be a true disciple and a follower of Christ. A Disciple’s Journey provides a fascinating read for those who are seeking a closer relationship with God through loving service and fellowship with other human beings. This book is unique in that it serves as a serious study for those who want to become a real disciple of Christ. Through practical every-day life examples, including his own, and through Biblical teachings, the reader is encouraged to pursue an intimate walk with God.

True discipleship requires Christ-followers to have a genuine desire and commitment to love God fully and completely rather than being content with a watered-down, lukewarm attitude towards Christianity. As a devotional, A Disciple’s Journey is a must read for those desiring to be a true disciple and a follower of Christ. It beautifully provides a systematic approach to study Scriptures relevant to Christian discipleship with adequate resources and references. It also offers viable options for the reader to help them work through this devotional with leisure and ease, at their own pace. Moreover, for young people, and particularly, for those seeking a Godly marriage, John’s book will undoubtedly serve as an excellent resource.

It is with great pleasure that I recommend this book for anyone who has a heart for God and a desire to become a true disciple and a follower of Christ,
Dr. George Kurian
Christian Counselor, Evangelist, Retired Pastor
Crossroads Counseling Ministries Inc. (Bowie, MD)

VERY good work! This could be used as a guideline for spiritual growth step by step.
Sam Swan
Seasoned Prayer Warrior, Pastor (USA)

This is a "Lifestyle" Devotional Guide and MUCH more. This book is a remarkable devotional fount of wisdom. What a great gift for any person seeking a deeper walk with Jesus Christ. Every writer has a voice that comes through in their writing. However, the author of this book emboldens the reader to recognize not his voice, but the voice of the Holy Spirit. If you are seeking a journey into intimacy with the only true God...this is a good place to start. Read it and pass it forward to another sojourner.
Kenneth Mack
Entrepreneur, Prophetically Gifted Teacher,  Author (North Carolina)

A strong practical life-changing book. As a young, on-staff minister I asked my senior pastor how I could best accelerate my walk with the Lord. At that time, he suggested different authors with different strengths that I should study separately to increase my understanding of the different aspects of my walk with Jesus. John Leach has written a concise, yet comprehensive manual in one volume that answers the questions I asked of my pastor years ago. It arms us with the tools of the Scriptures that I have found to be most helpful in each stage of my life. He also tells us of the obstacles we will encounter along the way. He encourages us that Jesus will bring us through every trial. A strong practical life-changing book.
Fred Patete
Retired Minister (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)

Outstanding devotional! I love the questions he asks. They make you think and examine your own life. John Leach is a gifted writer who understands God’s heart. I love how he personalizes the Gospel to our relationship to the Father. Here it is the reader searching his heart to find out what is important in his or her life and what the priorities are in their life. There is very little teaching today on becoming a disciple, unfortunately, and even less on the cost of being one. His book will go a long way in correcting that problem.
Anthony Arnold
Christian leader and devotional writer (Chess.com)

I highly recommend this wonderful book/journal. Taking the time to read, research, and take notes on the lessons provides tremendous personal growth. It is written in such a personal way that I can relate to the author and appreciate his insights. I think, too, that it's a book that I will refer to and review for many years.
Jim Kay
Real Estate Professional (Litchfield Beach, S.C.)

Powerful tool to settle your Soul!
Very well presented with a practical, concrete approach to help anyone seeking to find meaning in this life. As a Believer, you will find this book to be a powerful tool to strengthen your walk with God. As a non-Believer, you will find yourself wanting to know more about the Christian Faith & be glad you invested your time.
Bonnie Rubesha
City Planner, Entrepreneur, Real Estate  Professional (Brandon, FL)
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I'm up to chapter 2, so I still have a long way to go.
I really appreciated Chapter 1 "What Does God Really Want?" because it invites me, (the reader) to honestly consider what I want/desire and then search the Scriptures to discover what God wants/desires for/of me and compare the two lists to see if there is any overlap. This is a worthwhile exercise because unfortunately western Christianity has often given the message that all God wants/requires of us is to "pray a sinner's prayer" but Jesus wants to be both our Savior AND Lord. Jesus wants us to demonstrate our faith and love for Him through our submission and obedience to Him: "Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them." (John 14:21)
Steve Tuck
Australian Pastor (Chess.com)

Very well done. I can imagine how many lives this will touch.
LHCSaraB (Sara – USA)
On-fire Christian teen (Chess.com)

Se puede ver que será un libro de gran bendición.
Translation: You can see it will be a book of great blessing.
David De Las Heras Saldana (Mexico)
Evangelist (Chess.com)

Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A Disciple's Journey" by John T. Leach.

5 out of 5 stars. This is a book that Christians seeking to grow spiritually will truly be thankful for. I recommend this book to Christian readers who are eager to grow in maturity in their walk with God. The devotional studies contained in this book will serve as a compass to improve their spiritual lives.

A Disciple's Journey: 26 Devotional Studies to Draw You Closer to Jesus is a nonfiction book by John T. Leach. This is a book that Christians seeking to grow spiritually will truly be thankful for.

The book began with what God wants. It dissected God's desire for us. His desire is for us to wholeheartedly conform to Him. This was revealed by His act of sending His only beloved son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. To enjoy a fulfilling relationship with God, we will need to serve Him with all our hearts and make Him our number one priority. The book used the story of the prodigal son as a case study. The prodigal son migrated to a foreign land, lived an evil life, and then returned to his father. His father was happy, and as such, he welcomed him back. This symbolized how God would forgive our shortcomings if we returned to Him with a contrite heart. Readers were made to know that in their service to God, they cannot be lukewarm because God detests such a stance. They must follow him wholeheartedly. Having any idols in our lives will impair our devotion to God. The book examined the Beatitudes and how we can utilize them in our journey of being God's disciples. Several steps to take and habits to form that will help us in our Christian lives were outlined. Pick up a copy of this book to discover all of them

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The author brought to the attention of readers that being passive in the face of temptation would not lead to anything favorable. He dissected the case of our first parents, Adam and Eve, and what their passive demeanor led to. Their actions led to the fall of man. And as such, we as Christians are to emulate the life of Jesus Christ. When the devil came to tempt Jesus in the wilderness in his susceptible state, Jesus wasn't easy on him; he immediately rebuked him with the scriptures, and this is how we are to shun evil that will come in any form.

One of the first things I look out for in a book is how well-crafted the cover is. Pleasantly, this book did justice in that regard. I relished the cover because it gave off a soothing ambiance. I liked that the author incorporated some images into this extraordinary book. It gave readers an avenue to relate deeply to the subject matter discussed. There was an abundance of Bible verses spread out throughout the book. It served as a guide to what the author expounded to readers. This showed his writing wasn't simply mere say but what is contained in the infallible Word of God. There was a question section where readers are allowed to ask themselves these questions that would enable them to progress in their journey of being disciples of Christ. Readers who strive for in-depth knowledge were provided with resources

I sincerely appreciated that the author shared some of his personal experiences and the ways he learned from them. This assured readers that they aren't alone or the first to go through any situation, and also that there are solutions for them in the Bible. I held in high regard the idea that readers don't necessarily need to follow the devotional studies accordingly. They are allowed to choose any of them first, as the Spirit leads, and they can read it for as long as they deem fit.

Reading this book inspired me. It opened my eyes to see where I've deviated from the desires of God for my life. I saw how I'd be able to mature in my spiritual life, as all the studies are backed up by the Bible and proven to work, although at the onset they might not be so easy to start. I appreciate that the book's pages weren't so lengthy, yet the author made its contents in-depth and touched on every vital information Christians need to know in their service to God. I saw only one error, which reflects that the book was professionally edited. I have no reason to deny it a perfect rating of 5 out of 5 stars, considering the reasons outlined above.

I recommend this book to Christian readers who are eager to grow in maturity in their walk with God. The devotional studies contained in this book will serve as a compass to improve their spiritual lives.

Dedication

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV)

This book is dedicated to all those who have gone before me and helped me on my journey. It is also dedicated to those who will follow and spread the Word to others as they continue on their own journey as disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. My prayer and hope are that God will use this book in some small way to help us fulfill His Great Commission.

                                                                                 “Becoming more like Jesus through Praying, Studying, Meditating, and Doing”

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

                       Are You Ready for the Journey? 

                              May you persevere on your journey as a disciple of Jesus Christ. My hope is that A Disciple’s Journey will help you along the way.

Chapters 1-3

Grace has commonly been defined as unmerited favor or through the acrostic, God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. I like to think of grace as Christ-merited favor. Christ-merited favor is what Jesus Christ deserves. It is given to us as a gift through faith in Him. Faith in this context can be defined as confidence in God, His character, His Word, and His promises. It is more than mere head knowledge and lodges in the heart, producing action based on that confidence. Such faith is a gift of God and not something produced by man’s efforts or desires. Grace is what God has made available to us in Christ and faith appropriates it for our use.

To succeed in the Christian life requires a deep understanding and application of grace and a persevering faith that grows deeper through the trials of life. Trials are designed by God to test our faith and help us mature. God will enable His saints to persevere through trials without abandoning their faith (see 2 Timothy 1:12). Your faith and perseverance will be tested as you work your way through these devotional studies both by the studies themselves and by the events that transpire in your life. God has given you the overcoming life of Jesus Christ. If you keep your eyes, mind, and heart focused on Him, you will endure to the end and bring Him great joy.

These devotional studies provide insight into different aspects of the Christian life. By partnering with God through studying His Word and yielding to His Spirit, you will become more like Christ. Expect some resistance and some pain along the way. Old habits are hard to break and the enemy will resist you in establishing godly habits. God will help you break bad habits and replace them with good ones. After taking twenty-one days to form a good habit, it will take some effort to maintain it. You will need discipline and diligence to succeed but God is your Helper and Christ in you is the One who overcomes.

Enjoy the journey!

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3; ESV)

Chapter 1   What Does God Really Want?

After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: “I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.” Acts 13:22 (NIV)

We all want something out of life but we do not always know what we really want. Our priorities and desires can change as well as our awareness of them. Do you know what your “top ten” desires are? How about your top three or your number one desire? The answers to these questions may not be obvious. You may want to take some time to reflect and write down what you discover about your own heart and what your chief desires are. Similarly, we may think we know what God wants but it may not be what He really wants.

God created us and promises to give us the desires of our hearts if we delight in Him (Psalm 37:4). The Creator of our hearts also has a heart. Have you ever wondered what the chief or greatest desire of God’s heart is? That’s what this devotional study is about: what God really wants as His number one desire.

Arguably the best-known verse in the Bible is John 3:16. It may also be the most loved verse. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The Holy Bible reveals the greatest desire of God’s heart is for us to be reconciled to Him. He is a good God and He loves us. He called Jesus His “beloved Son” yet He gave Him up for us. He wants us to be reconciled to Him and share everlasting life with Him.

But what is everlasting life? Does it simply mean to live forever? Does it mean to live forever with God or does it mean something else? Jesus answers this question in John 17:3: “Now this is eternal life: they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” Eternal life means to know the only true God and Jesus Christ.

We can know what God and others have revealed about themselves. But knowing someone can mean many different things. It certainly means more than knowing about them. We can know about others through what we read or hear about them. We can assess what they have done and draw our own conclusions. But we don’t have direct access to their hearts. God revealed the greatest desire of His heart through sending His Son to die on the cross for us so that we might know Him (John 3:16). God then gives us access to His heart through His Word and by His Spirit that we might know Him intimately (1 Corinthians 2:1-16).

Jesus continues in John 17:25-26, “O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” Jesus also said, “protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so they may be one as we are one” (John 17:11b; NIV). John 17 gives us the answer to what God really wants through Jesus’s great priestly intercessory prayer. God’s greatest desire is for us to know Him and become one with Him.

God created us for Him but He didn’t create us to be robots. He gave each of us a will, a mind, and a heart. He wants us to enter into a voluntary oneness with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He will not force it upon us but will work in our hearts so we desire it. He wants the greatest desire of our hearts to match His - to choose Him and to become one with Him. When He has our hearts, our deepest fulfillment will be realized and we will be at rest in Him. But what hinders this from happening?

First, let us consider what cannot separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:35-39 provides a short list: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:

‘For Your sake we are killed all day long;

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

There is one and only one thing that keeps us from knowing God and from entering into union with Him. It is our sin. As Isaiah 59: 1-3 says, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity.” Jesus removed that barrier through His death on the cross. He reconciles us to God when we receive Him. But if we walk in darkness our sin blocks our fellowship with God (1 John 1:6-7) even though we may still have a relationship with Him. When we love God, we willingly follow Him. He will not dominate us and compel us to obey Him through fear, intimidation, guilt, or duty.

Sin is more than doing what is morally wrong or failing to do what is morally right. The essence of sin is having a will set at odds with God and His will. We usually want to manage and control our own lives. We do not like others to tell us what to do or to dictate how we are to live. We resist submitting to someone who wants to dominate us. But God’s will is for us to know and become one with Him which requires us to submit to Him. To do this we must first know true freedom and fulfillment come only to those who are willing to submit to Him and to be freed from the tyranny of “self.” But we seem to think we can do a better job than God because we want to run our own lives. God will allow or engineer circumstances in our lives to break us of our self-centered will so that we are willing to follow Him.

Even when we know we need help in managing our lives, we are reluctant to trust someone else. Too often we have been let down. Too often we have been hurt because we have trusted someone else and they have let us down. With good reason, we are not ready to entrust someone else with our lives. But can we trust God and His wisdom? Can we relinquish all control over our lives to God and trust Him to lead us into what is best? Are we willing to trust Him and allow Him to choose for us?

How can we trust God if we do not know Him? And how can we know Him if we do not trust Him? This is another form of the old dilemma: “Which came first: the chicken or the egg?” As we perceive God’s love (Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:19), we learn to trust and love Him. Our love for God compels us to obey Him (2 Corinthians 5:14). As we trust and obey God, He continues to reveal Himself and His love. Love, trust, and obedience are linked together with knowing God.

God knows our dilemma and He is willing to meet us where we are. When we come to Him, we are like a newborn baby. He knows we have to learn how to sit before we can stand and stand before we can walk. He also knows the progression of taking baby steps comes before walking with confidence and that walking comes before running. He also knows how to build endurance in us so we can run in a marathon race. Life is like a marathon and God wants us to be free to run with Him. To get there, we need to take things incrementally, starting at where we are now.

As we gradually discover that God is different from others and is trustworthy, we will grow in our willingness and ability to trust Him. Our love for God and trust in Him will grow together. These qualities are displayed to the degree that we learn to obey Him. Our love and trust will grow step-by-step as one act of obedience follows another.

Eventually, we can learn how to habitually obey God and that’s a very good thing! We are truly free when we go with God, obeying Him through easy and difficult situations. He is a patient Father and a good Father. He will continue to work with us to help us get to where He knows we need to go.

God wants us to love Him with all that we are and to trust Him fully. He wants us to become one with Him as Jesus prayed in John 17. He calls us into a holy oneness with the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God really wants us to enjoy this kind of intimacy with Him. As Jesus said, eternal life is for us to know God and Jesus Christ Whom He has sent (John 17:3).

Chapter 1 - What Does God Really Want?    Pray, Study, Meditate, and Do

Key Scripture: After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: “I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.” Acts 13:22 (NIV)

Ask God to help you as you work through this devotional study. Feel free to add to or change your answers any time. You are encouraged to write all your answers.

1. During this week take some time to search your heart before God and discover your greatest desires.
   

        2.  Can you identify your top ten desires? Write as many of them down as you can.

3. Can you identify your top three desires? If so, write them down.
   

4. Can you identify your greatest desire? If so, write it down.
   

5. Consider these Bible passages. What do they tell you about some of the desires of God’s heart? Psalm 37:4, Ezekiel 18:32, Hebrews 11:6, Matthew 22: 36-40. Identify and write down God’s desires as expressed in each passage.
   

6. Use an Internet search engine or a concordance if necessary and find some other Bible passages speak of desires in the heart of God. Write down the references and identify what desires of God’s heart they identify.
   

7. Try to find Bible passages to identify ten of the top desires of God’s heart. Write the references down and what desires they point to.
   

8. How do your top desires compare with God’s top desires for you?
   

9. Ask God to purify your heart to align your will and desires more closely with His. Look for Him to show you what you can do to cooperate with Him as He purifies your heart.
   

10. Ask God to show you a few things you can do to help move your heart toward His heart for you. Write these things down.
    

11. Choose one of the things God has shown you and work on making it into a habit and incorporating it into your life. Input it into your mobile device or write it on a 3” by 5” index card and carry it with you. Review it several times a day. See how you do and chart your progress.
    

Recommended resources and/or projects for those who want to go deeper: Shattered Dreams God’s Unexpected Path to Joy by Dr. Larry Crabb

How I Became a Christian

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” John 3:16-21 (NKJV)

It happened almost fifty years ago. I went to a Lutheran Sunday School as a young child and later faithfully attended a Christian Science Sunday School for the next twelve years until I went to college. While in high school, one student stood out among his peers because he always carried a big Bible. I tried to avoid him. However, he and I were the only men in my graduating class to be accepted into a special accelerated program at a state university about an hour away. As providence would have it, we became dormitory roommates for two years.

David believed the Bible, including the account of a six-day creation. He was pursuing a degree in Biology and teaching to better defend and communicate his faith. He was an Independent Baptists and wanted to become a pastor. He prayed for me and tried to share his faith. However, I was not too open and preferred to debate with him instead. One day I found a pamphlet on my desk which documented the origins of Christian Science and how its teachings conflicted with the Bible. I read it but wasn’t sure how I could win a debate with a pamphlet! However, it did cause me to question the teachings of Christian Science and I became open to the possibility that I was wrong.

My roommate was like a John the Baptist for me. He was sent by God to prepare the way for me to come to Christ. Although it took a couple of years to soften my heart, he did the hard work. He prepared the soil and watered the seed through his life, witness, and prayers. But God used someone else to reap what he had sown.

On a late Friday afternoon in April a friend had invited me to a meeting in a local home where a free home-cooked dinner would be provided. I had planned to head home for the weekend and visit with my parents and family. After waiting over an hour for the Trailways bus, I decided instead to take my friend up on his offer. The opportunity for a free home-cooked meal at a nice home was too much of a temptation for this college dorm student to pass by! I was trying to redeem the evening but God had something much bigger and better in mind.

My friend drove us to the home of the top IBM salesman in the area. It was filled with high-school and college-aged students as it had been on many previous Friday evenings. I was favorably impressed by the friendliness of the people and the hospitality of the host who provided all of the food. After enjoying a nice dinner, I tried to join in as everyone was singing songs about Jesus, accompanied by two guitarists. But I felt out of place like the proverbial bucket under a bull. After the music was over, everyone broke into separate groups.

I joined the other first-timers in a group led by a young man with a very loving and radiant smile. After everyone introduced themselves, he told us a story about a just judge who was also a loving father. He explained how the judge’s only son had gotten mixed up with the wrong crowd and was involved in a tragic event that ended in the murder of an innocent person. The trial was to be held by the judge who was unable to recuse himself.

The judge listened attentively as the evidence mounted against his son, pointing to his guilt in a first-degree murder charge. In a heart-wrenching moral dilemma, the judge was torn between his impeccable justice and the deep love he had for his son. Justice demanded the execution of his son but love wanted to find another way. The teacher asked us if anyone had an answer to this tragic dilemma.

After waiting for several minutes with no response, we heard the judge’s sentence: “Guilty of murder in the first degree! A life for a life!” Then the judge removed his judicial robe, stepped down from the bench, and presented himself to the bailiff to be taken away. His love and justice would both be satisfied as he surrendered himself to be executed for the murder his son had committed.

The young man with the radiant smile then explained that this was exactly what God had done by sending His Son to die for us. Jesus’s death satisfied God’s love and justice and made it possible for us to be reconciled to Him. He then gave another example. He took out his wallet and said, “Let this wallet represent your sin.” After setting it down, he clasped his two hands together in an interlocking oneness and said, “This represents the original relationship and fellowship God had with man.” He then pulled one hand away from the other and clenched it into a fist as he explained how man rebelled against God. He then placed his wallet in the hand that had pulled away as he explained how our sin separates us from God.

We saw the two hands could not come together because the wallet (our sin) separated them. The teacher then took the wallet from the other hand and set it on the floor as he explained how Jesus took away our sins through His death on the cross. He then explained that Jesus left our sins in the grave as He rose from the dead and demonstrated this as one hand left the wallet on the floor. The teacher then explained how we could be reconciled to God if acknowledged our sin, were willing to turn from it (repent), and receive Jesus Christ as our Savior and follow Him. He then reached up with the one hand to grasp the other hand which was waiting to receive it. Then the two hands interlocked again as one. He assured us that we would then go to heaven if we received Jesus into our lives (John 3:16; 1 John 5:13). But I had a hard time believing I had a sin problem until I heard the next illustration.

Suppose someone stole your furniture when you were not at home and got caught after selling the furniture and spending all the money. He then comes before the judge and reasons, “Your honor, I think you should let me off because I passed by dozens of houses and did not steal their furniture. The good I did by not stealing their furniture far outweighs the bad of stealing the furniture from this one house. And this is only my first offense.” Suppose the judge accepts his reasoning and lets him off. You would probably be pretty upset but could live with the result because your house was insured.

Now suppose you spent your insurance money and bought a house full of new furniture. Then the same thief comes by and steals all your furniture again, while you are on vacation. He sells it, spends the money, gets caught, and comes before the same judge as before. He tells the judge, “I’ve passed by hundreds of houses since the last time and did not steal their furniture. The good I did by not stealing their furniture far outweighs the bad I did by stealing the furniture from this one house. And, besides, this is only my second offense!” Suppose the judge accepts his reasoning and, once again, lets him off. By now you would rightfully be ticked off at that judge and think, “This is not justice at all!”

Because your insurance was canceled, you have to empty out your bank account and buy some decent used furniture as you try to get on with your life. While you are visiting some friends for an afternoon, this same thief comes by and steals your furniture again! He sells it, spends all the money, gets caught, and comes before the same judge. He uses the same reasoning as before, explaining that because he passed by thousands of houses without stealing their furniture and this is only his third offense, his good far outweighs the bad. The judge sides with him again and lets him off. By this time you should be furious and demand the impeachment of that judge! You know this isn’t justice at all!

The teacher explained how we often use the same reasoning as that furniture thief. We think if the good (in our own eyes) we have done outweighs the bad, God will not punish us for our sin. But this is not justice. We also often think God will be lenient with us and overlook our sin. But the Bible says God will by no means allow the guilty to go unpunished (Exodus 34:7). The Bible also says that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). But what is sin?

The teacher explained there are two kinds of sin. The first is the sin of commission when we do something we shouldn’t do. The second is the sin of omission where we fail to do something we should do. The word sin comes from an ancient Hebrew term which means to miss the mark. It is related to archery when the archer misses the bull’s eye and exclaims, “I have sinned!”

Sin also means to fall short of God’s standard of moral perfection. It included not just wrong actions but also evil thoughts, rotten attitudes, and unkind words. Through the Scriptures, He showed us that we all sinned and stood guilty before God. (“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23; KJV). “There is none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10b; KJV).) But how many times have we sinned?

Suppose I woke up one morning and stubbed my toe and thought some bad thoughts -- a sin of commission. Then suppose I also said a few choice words to my spouse, blaming her because I stubbed my toe -- another sin of commission. To top it off, I did not have a thankful heart -- a sin of omission. I have already sinned three times before even getting out of my bedroom! Suppose you are much better than me and just sinned three times a day. Multiply that by the number of days in a year and you get over a thousand sins a year. Multiply that by your age and you see what I needed to see: We all have a sin problem.

We have each committed thousands and thousands of sins! There is no way the Just Judge can overlook thousands of sins, especially since He will not even overlook one. These illustrations helped me realize that I was a sinner and needed a savior. I realized I deserved to go to hell but Jesus paid for my sin so I could go to heaven.

The teacher asked if anyone had any questions. I asked him about the heathen and was given a pamphlet to read that would help answer my question. I took it back to the dorm and read it that night. After thinking about what I had heard and read, the next morning I decided to accept Jesus Christ into my life as my Savior and I started my journey with Him.

I didn’t know too much about what it meant to follow Jesus as Lord. I am still learning about that! How about you?

If you don’t know the Lord, you have no idea how much God loves you. The Holy Spirit grieves for you but He will not manipulate you. Do you want to know how much the Father loves you? He points to His Son and said, “I gave my Son for you. This is how much I love you.” Do you want to know how much Jesus loves you? He opened His arms as wide as they would go and said, “This much!” Then He died on the cross.

Jesus died to reconcile us to God so we would know Him personally as our Father instead of as our Judge. He saves us from the wrath of God and receives us in love as His Bride so we can receive all the blessings of God throughout eternity! You need not delay but can receive Him today, if you are ready. If you would like Jesus to come into your life and heart, you can simply invite Him in with this simple prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You for dying on the cross for me to pay for my sins. I acknowledge I have failed to love God with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength and have not loved my neighbor as myself. Please come into my life and change me to be what You want me to be. Thank You for the gift of eternal life which I receive now by faith, trusting in Your Word. Amen.

To grow stronger in your new life as a follower (disciple) of Jesus Christ:

1. Read the Bible daily.

2. Talk to God in prayer often.

3. Find a Bible-believing church to join.

4. Regularly spend time with other Christians to share a meal and to learn more about the Lord.

5. Learn to trust God to help you share your faith with others so that they can know the Lord.

Welcome to the family of God!

This Web site is dedicated to helping to fulfill the Great Commission of making disciples of Jesus Christ. My book, A Disciple's Journey: 26 Devotional Studies to Draw You Closer to Jesus, was written to help you become a better disciple of Jesus. It is a tool a pastor can use to help his congregation mature as Christians. It can be used in small groups or individually. In a small group setting, an introductory class of six weeks can be offered to enable participants to read five devotionals and the questions each week and interact with others in their class based on what they have read. Willing class participants can decide to continue by taking the full one-year course as a group. This will help them to develop stronger relationships with group members and will be a source of encouragement and prayer support to help them finish the course successfully. I hope there are those who will rise to the occasion and take the challenge.

The Fellowship of the King

Other Books by the Author

The author has also written two other books under his penname, QuillPen. The first, The Amazing Adventures of Poly, the Amazon Parrot: Book 1 When Christmas Comes Twice is especially suited for younger children and the young at heart, ages five and up. Danny Boy: A Prodigal’s Journey is the author’s first novel. It is especially suited for older teens and young adults, although it is a book that most adults would enjoy. Both books are available on Amazon in e-book and paperback format.

The Amazing Adventures of Poly, the Amazon Parrot: Book 1 When Christmas Comes Twice

Poly begins and ends with uniquely charming Christmas stories. Sam, a boy of six, never knew his Dad who was killed in the war. Mom sacrifices to give him Poly for Christmas to help fill the void. Miraculously, one year later, Poly receives a priceless gift, and Mom receives an unaffordable gift from Sam. The middle chapters recount how Poly was snatched away upon graduation from Parrot Prep and transported into a strange new jungle by a mysterious eagle named Amer. There Poly makes new friends, encounters dangerous foes, and prays to the Great One Who miraculously delivers him from almost certain disaster. Amer then reappears and takes Poly to another adventure where he learns to combine knowledge and faith to survive the Great Fall.

What Others Are Saying about The Amazing Adventures of Poly, the Amazon Parrot

I definitely recommend it for the pre-teen set, and for light reading when people just need a break. It maintains your interest, has colorful characters, is well written, teaches meaningful lessons, and is very entertaining! I’m just loving it and know my granddaughters would too! This is the kind of book kids will remember and want it to be read again to them! I also recommend it as a reading book for parents to read to their children who don’t know how to read yet! (Good bedtime story). I think the kids will ask for it when they go to bed at night – a chapter a night! I KNOW what my daughter and son liked, and then my granddaughters, and this fits the bill!
Bonnie. R (grandmother); Brandon, FL

I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Carol B. (grandmother); Key Largo, FL

Nice read – not too long. Not sure what age group it’s intended for. I agree it would be good for eight-year-olds and up – all who are young at heart. I really like the large font – good for old eyes.
Johnny B (grandfather); Key Largo, FL

I loved your book! I loved the cliffhangers, the insight behind the pecking order, how Poly resisted temptation, and the end! I think it would be great for seven-to-ten-year-olds.
Micah T. (12-year-old); Hawaii

It’s beautiful, and I like it!
Sunshine (15-year-old girl); Hawaii

Danny Boy: A Prodigal’s Journey

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F1DVYL76?ref_=pe_93986420_775043100

Danny Boy takes place in late Eighteenth Century Scotland. It portrays different aspects of love and how God uses broken people and heals them through the power of prayer and unconditional love. The central character is Danny, a boy brought up in the safety and security of one of Scotland’s many glens who becomes alienated from his father and twin brother after losing his mother at thirteen. He takes his inheritance and leaves home at eighteen, seeking a fulfilling life through fun. He encounters both love and hardships that can either make or break a person. Redemption is only possible for Danny after he comes to the end of himself and realizes his need for God. The steadfast love of his father, assisted by two young ladies (Molly and Mary) and a prince, turns Danny around and helps him find wholeness and his place in the world of men. The themes of alienation, heartbreak, brokenness, forgiveness, and redeeming love are interwoven throughout the story. This novel was influenced by the "Parable of the Prodigal Son" and the song "Danny Boy."

Danny’s journey is divided into three parts. “Part 1: From Prodigal to Prince” takes the reader through Danny’s early life until the time he leaves his father and family, meets and forms a relationship with Molly, and launches out into the larger world to seek his fortune. “Part 2: On the Road to Dublin” chronicles his experiences as he seeks a career as a professional gambler with the intent of returning to marry Molly. “Part 3: The Journey Home” tells what happens to Danny that radically changes his life and his plans.

What Others Are Saying about Danny Boy: A Prodigal's Journey

It is magnificent! It is exciting and intriguing. I could not put it down, The way you used emotions, and those twists and turns, all led towards a beautiful ending. I love how you brought history and the Bible together to create this story. Chris C.; 16

I think that the hopeful message of Danny Boy is a must read for all! The heart wrenching retelling of a Bible story reminds me of Chuck Black's work, it's that good. Jesse H.; 13

5.0 out of 5 stars  A unique, gripping novel. It was relatable, unpredictable, and satisfying. I couldn't put it down! The realistic characters were relatable for both lads and lasses, and the historic setting provided a welcome change of pace. The unpredictable twists and turns kept my interest and made it hard to put the book down. Each of the main characters was on a separate journey fraught with danger and uncertainty mixed in with love and friendship. Nevertheless, the luck of the Irish and Danny's family leprechauns must have had a hand in some of those card games! The power of love, prevailing prayer, and the hand of God were clearly seen throughout the book. I highly recommend it. Christian Patriot (Amazon Review)

Available on Amazon:

e-book: $5.95 Paperback: $16.95

Available on Amazon:

e-book: $4.95 Paperback: $11.95

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