I have heard it said, "If it says it once in the Bible, it's important. If it's in the Bible twice, it's meant to get your attention. If it's in the Bible more than twice, you better be paying attention." We know all Scripture is God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16), and that we had better listen to it all. But the saying makes a good point. God doesn't repeat himself needlessly. How many times did God speak through a burning bush? Once.
I might miss something if I only read it once, but if I read it a second time the wheels of my mind start turning. If I read it a third time, I break out a pen and begin taking notes. Something similar to that happened to me yesterday.
I was studying for a class I'll be teaching in the spring (2014). The material I was looking through referred to a book I had previously read, and I decided to get it out and start reading it again. The book is Don Whitney's Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. As I begin to read I was confronted with 1 Timothy 4:7, "Discipline yourself for the purpose of Godliness."
My life has been less than disciplined lately. I have been struggling for a long time to pull everything together. I had just about lost all interest in trying to right the ship, so to speak. As I prayed and studied Saturday evening, the Lord confronted my laziness. Then on Sunday, I was confronted with 1 Timothy 4:7.
After mulling that verse over for a bit, I went on with my studies. I had picked up a different book to look at a couple familiar passages, and guess what greeted me. It was 1 Timothy 4:7. Different author, different context, but it was the same truth, applied in a new way. So I got my pen out, and started taking notes.
I was reminded that I am a disciple, a learner of Christ. The core of disciple is discipline. If I want to be like Christ, I have to pursue it. I'm prone to forget that truth. He has given me every means necessary to accomplish the task, but he expects me to use those means to do it. What is my goal? Godliness. How am I going to get there? Discipline.
Showing posts with label Discipline. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Discipline. Show all posts
Monday, July 8, 2013
Friday, September 21, 2012
Mental Wanderings
Do you ever let you mind wander when you are doing chores? I do. My wanders a lot during some tasks. Today, I was pruning blackberry bushes early this afternoon. As I snipped off dead branches and pulled up weeds, some things occurred to me.
The first thing that occurred to me is that we also go through pruning. The dead branches on a blackberry bush only make it harder to harvest the fruit. If you aren't careful, that deadness can spread. Jesus said, "I am the vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit" (John 15:1-2, HCSB). When we get the dead branches out of our lives, we, most likely, will see an increase in fruitfulness. Dead branches are the people, activities, and private sins we allow to draw us away from God.
Another thing that occurred to me is that the presence of sin in the world means that we will have to work hard and endure pain, if we are to enjoy the fruit of a well lived life. I love blackberries. I have worked to maintain the wild bushes in my yard. I enjoy being able to go out, right behind my house and harvest blackberries in the summer. But I seriously doubt that many have ever harvested a large amount of blackberries without also having to doctor cuts and pick thorns out of their skin. The blackberry, in all its yummy goodness, does not come without some discomfort (even tame blackberries purchased in a store put a thorn in your wallet).
It also occurred to me that crabgrass is a violent, invasive killer. Its roots grow deep and wide, and entangle themselves in the root systems of more useful plants. As I worked to uproot the crabgrass growing around my blackberry bushes, I couldn't keep from thinking about Jesus' parable about the wheat and the tares. The tares were weeds that an enemy had sown. Jesus warned against pulling them up, for fear it would damage the wheat. They were allowed to grow together until the harvest, and then the tares were gathered into bundles and burned. Some of my careless weeding cost me precious blackberry plants, so I adjusted my strategy. The plants that survive will be stronger in the long run, since they aren't competing with the crabgrass any more. It reminded me that discipline must be practiced wisely, carefully, and with a gentle hand.
What about you, where do your mental wanders take you? What truths are you confronted with? What wisdom is passed on? Let me know about it.
The first thing that occurred to me is that we also go through pruning. The dead branches on a blackberry bush only make it harder to harvest the fruit. If you aren't careful, that deadness can spread. Jesus said, "I am the vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit" (John 15:1-2, HCSB). When we get the dead branches out of our lives, we, most likely, will see an increase in fruitfulness. Dead branches are the people, activities, and private sins we allow to draw us away from God.
Another thing that occurred to me is that the presence of sin in the world means that we will have to work hard and endure pain, if we are to enjoy the fruit of a well lived life. I love blackberries. I have worked to maintain the wild bushes in my yard. I enjoy being able to go out, right behind my house and harvest blackberries in the summer. But I seriously doubt that many have ever harvested a large amount of blackberries without also having to doctor cuts and pick thorns out of their skin. The blackberry, in all its yummy goodness, does not come without some discomfort (even tame blackberries purchased in a store put a thorn in your wallet).
It also occurred to me that crabgrass is a violent, invasive killer. Its roots grow deep and wide, and entangle themselves in the root systems of more useful plants. As I worked to uproot the crabgrass growing around my blackberry bushes, I couldn't keep from thinking about Jesus' parable about the wheat and the tares. The tares were weeds that an enemy had sown. Jesus warned against pulling them up, for fear it would damage the wheat. They were allowed to grow together until the harvest, and then the tares were gathered into bundles and burned. Some of my careless weeding cost me precious blackberry plants, so I adjusted my strategy. The plants that survive will be stronger in the long run, since they aren't competing with the crabgrass any more. It reminded me that discipline must be practiced wisely, carefully, and with a gentle hand.
What about you, where do your mental wanders take you? What truths are you confronted with? What wisdom is passed on? Let me know about it.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Lead Your Heart
"The heart of a man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps" (Prov. 16:9, ESV).
There is a line in the movie, Fireproof, that says something like, "You can't follow your heart, because your heart can be deceived. You have to lead your heart." We want to believe that our heart is unaffected by the Fall, that it wants what is best for us. But the human heart has been affected by the fall, and has its own interests at heart.
If we follow the plans of our heart, without serious reflection, we can get into deep trouble. I'm not saying that we cannot trust any of our desires, but that we need to be cautious. When we plan, we need to ask ourselves to what end we are planning. Are our plans about self promotion and self interest? Or are they about glorifying God in our lives? Or do we say they are about glorifying God, so he will bless us?
He's not fooled by our clever tactics. He sees through our charade. It is wiser to turn to the Lord, and to ask him to establish our steps, to allow him to show us the plans he has for us. His plans always turn out for his glory our our good.
Sit down with the Word and ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand it. Read it. Study it. Meditate on it. Pray it back to God. Read it again. Study it more. As you do these things, allow the Word to form you, to shape you, and to challenge you. Allow the Word to teach you God's plan, and then make it your plan. Otherwise, the plans of your heart will come to nothing.
The Lord is ordering your steps, so step wisely. Step up, and lead your heart. If you don't, your heart will lead you, but not always to the place you want to go.
There is a line in the movie, Fireproof, that says something like, "You can't follow your heart, because your heart can be deceived. You have to lead your heart." We want to believe that our heart is unaffected by the Fall, that it wants what is best for us. But the human heart has been affected by the fall, and has its own interests at heart.
If we follow the plans of our heart, without serious reflection, we can get into deep trouble. I'm not saying that we cannot trust any of our desires, but that we need to be cautious. When we plan, we need to ask ourselves to what end we are planning. Are our plans about self promotion and self interest? Or are they about glorifying God in our lives? Or do we say they are about glorifying God, so he will bless us?
He's not fooled by our clever tactics. He sees through our charade. It is wiser to turn to the Lord, and to ask him to establish our steps, to allow him to show us the plans he has for us. His plans always turn out for his glory our our good.
Sit down with the Word and ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand it. Read it. Study it. Meditate on it. Pray it back to God. Read it again. Study it more. As you do these things, allow the Word to form you, to shape you, and to challenge you. Allow the Word to teach you God's plan, and then make it your plan. Otherwise, the plans of your heart will come to nothing.
The Lord is ordering your steps, so step wisely. Step up, and lead your heart. If you don't, your heart will lead you, but not always to the place you want to go.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Growing in Discipline
"He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray" (Prov. 5:23, ESV).
I am wondering if I should make discipline the theme of 2010. As I think about this verse, it offers me definite warning. Lack of discipline not only leads to shattered dreams it leads to destruction. Lack of discipline in the financial realm leads to debt and poor stewardship of the gifts God has given. Poor financial stewardship leads to the inability to support missions and ministry. Lack of discipline in the physical realm often leads to laziness, obesity, and poor health. Laziness and poor health also diminish the reach and effectiveness of our ministry.
If we lack discipline in any or every area of our life, we limit what we can achieve for the Lord. I know that the Lord is sovereign, and can work in spite of our weakness. However, that does not mean we can presume that he will bless our disobedience. In fact, the Scriptures warn us that he will not bless our mess.
As I reflect further on this verse, I know that discipline is a desperate need in my life. I realize that I have struggled with a slacker attitude for years. I also realize that slackness in ministry spells death for many. There is too much good that needs to be accomplished to waste our days with idleness and undisciplined behavior.
People are lead astray by desires that are left unchecked. Lack of discipline allows these passions to spread. As they grow, they consume. For this reason, we are warned to make no provision for the flesh. My must come to terms with the reality that we do not possess ourselves, but we belong to the Lord for he has purchased us with the great and precious price of his blood. It is his command that should drive our decisions. It is his Word that must direct our path. Thus, we must discipline ourselves to submit to it or we can be sure the Lord will discipline us when we don't. Why should God's children pursue folly? They shouldn't. Once we were sheep gone astray, each turning to his own way, but through Christ, the Great Shepherd of our souls, we have been brought back into the fold.
I know I must now embark on a quest to find discipline, and in the process find holiness. It is a pursuit that really began the day I trusted Christ, but now must find a fuller, clearer expression in my life. As students of Jesus, we find life and liberty as we conform ourselves to his will. Submission is the key to freedom. I pray by the grace of God that the Spirit will bring about an abundant harvest of the fruit of self-control in my life this year, that I might better serve and glorify my King.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
A Clear Distinction
"I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people--not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greed and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is and idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler--not to even eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. 'Purge the evil person from among you'" (1 Cor. 5:6-13).
These words from the apostle Paul sound strange and harsh in modern ears. In a society where the most quoted (and misunderstood) Scriptures is Matthew 7:1, which states, "Judge not that, you be not judged," it becomes difficult to understand and apply Paul's words. In fact, today we often get Paul's teaching backwards. Many of us withdraw from the sexually immoral, the idolater, and the greedy in the world, that is, the lost, but we refrain from exposing and disciplining such sin in the fellowship.
Paul clearly states that we are not to refrain from being around the lost. It defeats the purpose of the church. The church is appointed to bring glory to God by the proclamation of the gospel. If we are proclaiming the gospel to those who need to hear it, then how will they hear? And if they don't hear how can they believe? They won't and they can't. We are called to be in the world, but not of it. The difference between the "believer" and the "unbeliever" ought to be greater than the one has his name on a church roll and the other doesn't.
The difference Paul is calling for is no mere external morality. He is stressing the qualitative difference between the believer and non-believer. What is "normal" in the world is to be rejected by the church. Paul states, "But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexually immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler--not even to eat with such a one" (1 Cor. 5:11). Paul is saying that while it is acceptable to be around the lost (how else will they get saved) it is not acceptable to be around professing Christians who live like the lost. The old saying states, "If it walks like a duck, and looks like a duck, and sounds like a duck, its probably a duck," holds true for people. If they live in sin and love sin and refuse to leave sin, they are probably still dead in sin.
When we continue to fellowship with professing Christians who live habitually in unrepentant sin, we declare our agreement with their actions. As Amos mused, "Do to walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?" (Amos3:3). The act of disfellowship is really meant to bring about repentance and then restoration. It provides the unrepentant an opportunity to assess their heart and to see if they have truly believe the gospel. Therefore, the action, which seems so cold and heartless in our society, is actually an act of incredible love. Christ our Lord has made the distinction between those who are his people and those who are not, it is not for us to challenge his definitions, but to walk in obedience to his commands.
These words from the apostle Paul sound strange and harsh in modern ears. In a society where the most quoted (and misunderstood) Scriptures is Matthew 7:1, which states, "Judge not that, you be not judged," it becomes difficult to understand and apply Paul's words. In fact, today we often get Paul's teaching backwards. Many of us withdraw from the sexually immoral, the idolater, and the greedy in the world, that is, the lost, but we refrain from exposing and disciplining such sin in the fellowship.
Paul clearly states that we are not to refrain from being around the lost. It defeats the purpose of the church. The church is appointed to bring glory to God by the proclamation of the gospel. If we are proclaiming the gospel to those who need to hear it, then how will they hear? And if they don't hear how can they believe? They won't and they can't. We are called to be in the world, but not of it. The difference between the "believer" and the "unbeliever" ought to be greater than the one has his name on a church roll and the other doesn't.
The difference Paul is calling for is no mere external morality. He is stressing the qualitative difference between the believer and non-believer. What is "normal" in the world is to be rejected by the church. Paul states, "But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexually immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler--not even to eat with such a one" (1 Cor. 5:11). Paul is saying that while it is acceptable to be around the lost (how else will they get saved) it is not acceptable to be around professing Christians who live like the lost. The old saying states, "If it walks like a duck, and looks like a duck, and sounds like a duck, its probably a duck," holds true for people. If they live in sin and love sin and refuse to leave sin, they are probably still dead in sin.
When we continue to fellowship with professing Christians who live habitually in unrepentant sin, we declare our agreement with their actions. As Amos mused, "Do to walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?" (Amos3:3). The act of disfellowship is really meant to bring about repentance and then restoration. It provides the unrepentant an opportunity to assess their heart and to see if they have truly believe the gospel. Therefore, the action, which seems so cold and heartless in our society, is actually an act of incredible love. Christ our Lord has made the distinction between those who are his people and those who are not, it is not for us to challenge his definitions, but to walk in obedience to his commands.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Parenting Resources
I just read an important article by Dr. Russell Moore, The Eschatology of Parenting. The article stresses the importance of disciplining children. Another helpful resource for parenting is Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp. Both sources remind us that a parent's goal should not be on behavior modification, but on change of heart. We must not forget the fallenness of humanity as we rear our children, nor should we forget the role of grace. As Dr. Moore reminds us, the goal of discipline is to prepare the heart for the gospel. If the Lord disciplines the ones he loves, what does it say about us if we don't discipline our children?
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Tested Faith
Socrates once said, "An unexamined life is not worth living." Inquisitive fellow that he was, I assume he meant that we must all be on a quest for understanding ourselves and the world around us. Someone said something to me about the testing of the faith and this Socrates quote to mind. My mind began to shuffle Socrates' words to fit the Christian life. Here is what I came up with, "An untested faith is not alive."
Many of us seem genuinely surprised when facing difficulties. Peter responds to our surprise, "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you" (1 Pet 4:12, ESV). The fiery trial Peter addressed was persecution, but author of Hebrews reminds us that all hardship is to be endured as discipline from the Lord (Heb. 12:7). When we understand testing (trials/difficulties) as discipline, and remember that God disciplines those he loves, difficulty then becomes a confirmation of God's love for us.
I have to stress here that there is a real difference between punishment and discipline. Discipline is meant to bring about correction, to form, and to shape. Discipline is restorative; its function is reconciliation. Punishment is meant to bring about justice. Punishment is retributive; its function is to penalize wrong doing. Also, it is important to stress that not all hardship in a believer's life is the direct result of sinning. We do, however, have to remember that every follower of Jesus Christ is a redeemed sinner and that the Holy Spirit is continually at work in us to eradicate our sin nature (this is the process of sanctification). We need to make these distinctions so we will understand that God is not punishing us for our sin (he has already punished Christ for our sin), but he is disciplining us (correcting us) so that we may reflect Christ's glory.
How does this understanding help us in the midst of a trial? If we understand trials to be a sign of God's love for us, his desire to cleanse and accept us, and his continual work in us, then it should bring us great joy that we are undergoing difficulty. You may ask, "How can it bring us great joy?". James commands, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" (James 1:2-4, ESV). How can we count it all joy to suffer trials? Because we know the trials are being used by God to make us into fully matured followers of Christ who possess all they need.
Peter reminds us of our "inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven" for us (1 Pet. 1:4, ESV). He goes on to say, "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes thought it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 1:6-7, ESV). Thus Peter calls on us to reflect not on what we have suffered, but on what we are about to gain when Christ appears. Our joy comes from the knowledge that we, as saved sinners, are being fashioned into glorious saints, and that the trials that we go through are preparing us for Christ's return.
Let's return to our statement, "An untested faith is not alive." What does it mean? It means that if we are not be tested we are not truly of the faith. As the author of Hebrews stated, "If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons" (Heb. 12:8, ESV). If a person can continually habitually live in unrepentant sin, and not undergo the severe discipline of the Lord, then that person has no reason to believe that they truly know the Lord. If there is no conviction of sin, no desire for repentance, and no perception of the need of reconciliation, then there is no life. A faith that is not tested is a faith that will not grow; a faith that does not grow is not alive.
Rejoice the next time difficulty comes your way, because the Lord is at work in you. Ask the Lord, "What lesson would you have me to learn?", "What sinful behaviour or attitude must I depart with?", "What must I do to make it right?". Listen for the answers and then respond in obedient faith. Remember God is not out to harm you, but he is in the process of transforming you into the image of the Son.
Many of us seem genuinely surprised when facing difficulties. Peter responds to our surprise, "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you" (1 Pet 4:12, ESV). The fiery trial Peter addressed was persecution, but author of Hebrews reminds us that all hardship is to be endured as discipline from the Lord (Heb. 12:7). When we understand testing (trials/difficulties) as discipline, and remember that God disciplines those he loves, difficulty then becomes a confirmation of God's love for us.
I have to stress here that there is a real difference between punishment and discipline. Discipline is meant to bring about correction, to form, and to shape. Discipline is restorative; its function is reconciliation. Punishment is meant to bring about justice. Punishment is retributive; its function is to penalize wrong doing. Also, it is important to stress that not all hardship in a believer's life is the direct result of sinning. We do, however, have to remember that every follower of Jesus Christ is a redeemed sinner and that the Holy Spirit is continually at work in us to eradicate our sin nature (this is the process of sanctification). We need to make these distinctions so we will understand that God is not punishing us for our sin (he has already punished Christ for our sin), but he is disciplining us (correcting us) so that we may reflect Christ's glory.
How does this understanding help us in the midst of a trial? If we understand trials to be a sign of God's love for us, his desire to cleanse and accept us, and his continual work in us, then it should bring us great joy that we are undergoing difficulty. You may ask, "How can it bring us great joy?". James commands, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" (James 1:2-4, ESV). How can we count it all joy to suffer trials? Because we know the trials are being used by God to make us into fully matured followers of Christ who possess all they need.
Peter reminds us of our "inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven" for us (1 Pet. 1:4, ESV). He goes on to say, "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes thought it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 1:6-7, ESV). Thus Peter calls on us to reflect not on what we have suffered, but on what we are about to gain when Christ appears. Our joy comes from the knowledge that we, as saved sinners, are being fashioned into glorious saints, and that the trials that we go through are preparing us for Christ's return.
Let's return to our statement, "An untested faith is not alive." What does it mean? It means that if we are not be tested we are not truly of the faith. As the author of Hebrews stated, "If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons" (Heb. 12:8, ESV). If a person can continually habitually live in unrepentant sin, and not undergo the severe discipline of the Lord, then that person has no reason to believe that they truly know the Lord. If there is no conviction of sin, no desire for repentance, and no perception of the need of reconciliation, then there is no life. A faith that is not tested is a faith that will not grow; a faith that does not grow is not alive.
Rejoice the next time difficulty comes your way, because the Lord is at work in you. Ask the Lord, "What lesson would you have me to learn?", "What sinful behaviour or attitude must I depart with?", "What must I do to make it right?". Listen for the answers and then respond in obedient faith. Remember God is not out to harm you, but he is in the process of transforming you into the image of the Son.
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