Read an Excerpt

The Touch of the Master's Hand

Thomas Nelson

Chapter One

Becoming Like Jesus

"What if, for one day and one night, Jesus lives your life with his heart? Your heart gets the day off, and your life is led by the heart of Christ.... Would people notice a change?"-Max Lucado

1. Describe a person who truly lives with the heart of Christ.

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A Moment with Max Max shares these insights with us in his book Just Like Jesus.

Where did we get the idea we can't change? From whence come statements such as, "It's just my nature to worry," or "I'll always be pessimistic. I'm just that way," or "I have a bad temper. I can't help the way I react"? Who says? Would we make similar statements about our bodies? "It's just my nature to have a broken leg. I can't do anything about it." Of course not. If our bodies malfunction, we seek help. Shouldn't we do the same with our hearts? Shouldn't we seek aid for our sour attitudes? Can't we request treatment for our selfish tirades? Of course we can. Jesus can change our hearts. He wants us to have a heart like his.

Can you imagine a better offer? The heart of Jesus was pure.... Jesus' heart was peaceful.... His heart was purposeful.... His heart was spiritual....

2. List several excuses people give for not changing.

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3. What kinds of tools does God use to make our hearts more like Jesus' heart?

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A Message from the Word

21 I know that you heard about him, and you are in him, so you were taught the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught to leave your old self-to stop living the evil way you lived before. That old self becomes worse, because people are fooled by the evil things they want to do. 23 But you were taught to be made new in your hearts, 24 to become a new person. That new person is made to be like God-made to be truly good and holy.

25 So you must stop telling lies. Tell each other the truth, because we all belong to each other in the same body. 26 When you are angry, do not sin, and be sure to stop being angry before the end of the day. 27 Do not give the devil a way to defeat you. 28 Those who are stealing must stop stealing and start working. They should earn an honest living for themselves. Then they will have something to share with those who are poor.

29 When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need-words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you. 30 And do not make the Holy Spirit sad. The Spirit is God's proof that you belong to him. God gave you the Spirit to show that God will make you free when the final day comes. 31 Do not be bitter or angry or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil. 32 Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ.

1 You are God's children whom he loves, so try to be like him. 2 Live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 4:21-5:2

4. To what extent are we able to fix or change ourselves?

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5. What keeps us from making necessary changes in our lives?

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6. List some practical benefits of living good and holy lives.

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More from the Word

5 In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus. 6 Christ himself was like God in everything. But he did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for his own benefit. 7 But he gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born to be a man and became like a servant. 8 And when he was living as a man, he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death-death on a cross.

Philippians 2:5-8

7. How do we begin thinking as Jesus does?

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8. What cultural pressures do we need to overcome to become servants like Jesus?

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9. How does Christ's death on the cross enable us to change?

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My Reflections

"God's plan for you is nothing short of a new heart. If you were a car, God would want control of your engine. If you were a computer, God would claim the software and the hard drive. If you were an airplane, he'd take his seat in the cockpit. But you are a person, so God wants to change your heart."-Max

Journal

What is one specific change I can make in my daily routine to become more like Christ?

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For Further Study

To learn more about becoming like Jesus, read Romans 8:29-30; Colossians 3:10-17; Hebrews 12:2.

Additional Questions

10. What happens when we surrender our hearts to God?

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11. How can a person determine what he or she is holding back from God?

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12. What motivates you to continue striving to imitate Jesus?

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Additional Thoughts

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Chapter Two

Loving Difficult People

"The mercy of Christ preceded our mistakes; our mercy must precede the mistakes of others." -Max Lucado

1. How do people typically respond when they see someone make a foolish or stupid mistake?

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A Moment with Max Max shares these insights with us in his book Just Like Jesus.

Jesus himself knew the feeling of being stuck with someone. For three years he ran with the same crew. By and large, he saw the same dozen or so faces around the table, around the campfire, around the clock. They rode in the same boats and walked the same roads and visited the same houses, and I wonder, how did Jesus stay so devoted to his men? Not only did he have to put up with their visible oddities, he had to endure their invisible foibles. Think about it. He could hear their unspoken thoughts. He knew their private doubts. Not only that, he knew their future doubts. What if you knew every mistake your loved ones had ever made and every mistake they would ever make? What if you knew every thought they would have about you, every irritation, every dislike, every betrayal?

Was it hard for Jesus to love Peter, knowing Peter would someday curse him? Was it tough to trust Thomas, knowing Thomas would one day question Jesus' resurrection? How did Jesus resist the urge to recruit a new batch of followers? John wanted to destroy one enemy. Peter sliced off the ear of another. Just days before Jesus' death, his disciples were arguing about which of them was the best! How was he able to love people who were hard to like?

2. Why do the very things that draw us to someone often irritate us over time?

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3. In your opinion, what is the key to sustaining lifelong, committed relationships?

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A Message from the Word

5 Then he poured water into a bowl and began to wash the followers' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 Jesus came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

7 Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later."

8 Peter said, "No, you will never wash my feet."

Jesus answered, "If I don't wash your feet, you are not one of my people."

9 Simon Peter answered, "Lord, then wash not only my feet, but wash my hands and my head, too!"

10 Jesus said, "After a person has had a bath, his whole body is clean. He needs only to wash his feet. And you men are clean, but not all of you." 11 Jesus knew who would turn against him, and that is why he said, "Not all of you are clean."

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and sat down again. He asked, "Do you understand what I have just done for you? 13 You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and you are right, because that is what I am. 14 If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other's feet. 15 I did this as an example so that you should do as I have done for you."

John 13:5-15

4. List some simple, practical ways Christians can serve one another.

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5. In what circumstances is it more difficult to serve rather than to be served? Why?

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6. When is it more difficult to be served than to serve? Why?

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More from the Word

12 God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So always do these things: Show mercy to others, be kind, humble, gentle, and patient. 13 Get along with each other, and forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave you. 14 Do all these things; but most important, love each other. Love is what holds you all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking, because you were all called together in one body to have peace. Always be thankful. 16 Let the teaching of Christ live in you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and instruct each other by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Everything you do or say should be done to obey Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.

Colossians 3:12-17

7. What does it mean to be God's holy people?

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8. If we have experienced God's unconditional love and forgiveness, what keeps us from extending the same love and forgiveness to others?

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9. How would our communities be different if everything we said and did was in obedience to Jesus?

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My Reflections

"Are any relationships in your world thirsty for mercy? Are there any sitting around your table who need to be assured of your grace? Jesus made sure his disciples had no reason to doubt his love. Why don't you do the same?"-Max

Journal

Who is one person who needs to be reassured of my love and loyalty? How can I provide this?

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For Further Study

To learn more about loving others, read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Ephesians 4:29-32; 1 John 1:7.

Additional Questions

10. How does it feel to be loved unconditionally? How does God's unconditional love alter our lives?

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11. How does withholding forgiveness from others affect us?

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12. Explain the ramifications of the statement, "Forgive and you will be forgiven."

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Additional Thoughts

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(Continues...)

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Excerpted from The Touch of the Master's Hand by Max Lucado Copyright © 1999 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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