Tomorrow, we face the concept of the Disciplines in our Origins series. It is not a popular message. We like the concept. But, the application of the concept of disciplining our minds and bodies is challenging. We find that "the flesh is willing but the spirit is weak." Prayer, fasting, stewardship, bringing our bodies and minds into subjection to the nature of Christ challenges even the most mature believer.
But, peace in our walk with Christ cannot truly be experienced until we choose to be disciplined and to discipline ourselves to walk in the Way of the Master. Converting to Christ without following Him is like being born and refusing to breathe. The new birth takes place but death follows. In my opinion based on my understanding of Scripture, Christians who choose not to proceed beyond new birth are neither dead to themselves nor are they alive to Christ. Marc Vandersluys frames it up well when he said:
Examination of our ultimate desires and intentions, reflected in the specific responses and choices that make up our lives, can show whether there are things we hold more important than being like him. If there are, then we are not yet his disciples. Being unwilling to follow him, our claim of trusting him must ring hollow.
Prayer, fasting, self-control, stewardship, and the taming of habits which run in rebellion to Christ must be made as integral to life as the receiving of grace, foriveness, healing, restoration, and prosperity- all gifts we actively seek and freely receive.
Technorati Tags: stewardship - prayer - fasting - discipleship
Recent Comments