Friday, October 27, 2006
Discipline
This morning I was reading Hebrews 12, taking special note of that portion of the chapter that deals specifically with discipline. I recognize that I'm not a highly disciplined person, so this Scripture has special significance to me.
Human nature just naturally gravitates toward the path of least resistance. The natural desire is for comfort and pleasure, steering clear, if possible, of anything that would interrupt that state. I've discovered that most of us want the end result of discipline, but we're either unwilling or lack the endurance to go through the process of discipline to get it.
Spiritual discipline is no different. We're told that discipline produces the peaceful fruit of righteousness, enabling us to share in God's holiness (Hebrews 12:10,11). By this definition of discipline's results, we in the western church have a long way to go. When it is difficult to tell the difference between the lifestyles of those who profess to follow Christ and those who don't, it becomes obvious that there is a lack of spiritual discipline.
I believe the American obesity problem that we've been hearing so much about in the news is indicative of the spiritual condition of the American church. We are fat and out of shape, unable to be the lean, mean, fighting machine against the kingdom of darkness that Jesus intends his church to be. Discipline is sorely needed in the church.
Human nature just naturally gravitates toward the path of least resistance. The natural desire is for comfort and pleasure, steering clear, if possible, of anything that would interrupt that state. I've discovered that most of us want the end result of discipline, but we're either unwilling or lack the endurance to go through the process of discipline to get it.
Spiritual discipline is no different. We're told that discipline produces the peaceful fruit of righteousness, enabling us to share in God's holiness (Hebrews 12:10,11). By this definition of discipline's results, we in the western church have a long way to go. When it is difficult to tell the difference between the lifestyles of those who profess to follow Christ and those who don't, it becomes obvious that there is a lack of spiritual discipline.
I believe the American obesity problem that we've been hearing so much about in the news is indicative of the spiritual condition of the American church. We are fat and out of shape, unable to be the lean, mean, fighting machine against the kingdom of darkness that Jesus intends his church to be. Discipline is sorely needed in the church.
# posted by Carman : 2:18 PM
