DISCIPLINE
This is my Church Newsletter article for March. It is inspired by frustration with longstanding Christians who seem to have so little motivation to further mature in matters of their spiritual lives. It seems natural and normal to me that a follower of Christ would want to know Him better and serve Him more effectively. Yet, so many seem satisfied. In my opinion, one should never be "satisfied" with who he is or what he is about in life.
So, here's a sample of the monthly screech I send out to our church membership.
For me to write a post about discipline feels about as fitting as to bring a piano to a Church of Christ convention. It just does not seem to fit. If I follow my natural inclinations I will eat too much, exercise too little, and at the end of the day find nothing accomplished. Thus I struggle to seek to be disciplined in most matters of life.
God has so arranged human nature that nothing is forced upon us. We are free moral and behavioural creatures. After a particular action or inaction, we will never be able to say “God made me do it”- or the devil either for that matter. We make choices and then live with the consequences. It is like the man who faithfully and fervently prayed, everyday, for a job. Yet he continued to be unemployed. Finally, in the middle of one of his pious devotions, the Lord stopped him and said, “You’re going to have to help out a little. How about applying for a job?” We may at first laugh at such a silly example, yet upon further consideration find ourselves in a similar dilemma.
Christian: “God, please heal my health problems…”
Lord: “You’re going to have to help out a little (Henceforth YGTHTHOAL!). Treat your health with the respect the temple of God deserves…”
Christian: “God, help me to be closer to you…”
Lord: “YGTHTHOAL! Develop the disciplines of prayer, Bible study, worship, and…”
Christian: “God, help me with my relationship with my neighbour/workmate...”
Lord: “YGTHTHOAL! Work hard to show intentional actions of love toward…”
Christian: “God, my church has some serious needs. Why that pastor…”
Lord: “YGTHTHOAL! Find a need in your church, stops making excuses for inactivity, roll up your sleeves, and…”
You and I can make all kinds of excuses for lack of discipline; but, not to God.
02.22.07 (4:39 pm) [
edit]
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
02.22.07 (2:29 pm)
So... I read the post... and I read it again... and I thought, "What the hell language is Dave writing in? YGTHTHOAL? Doesn't look Greek, or Aramaic... What the?
Oh. Duh.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
02.22.07 (2:32 pm)
Reply to: surrogate
CMR Piggs
MNO Piggs
OSMR
YIB, MR Piggs!
posted by:
seochris (
reply)
post date:
02.22.07 (8:12 pm)
Well whats that word "YGTHTHOAL"
As for ur post I think u r speaking practicality.
Yes its required the most these days.
Now I get the feeling y our prayers are not answered or sometimes too delayed.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
02.23.07 (4:02 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
I tried. I really tried. I swear I tried.
I can't figure it out your reply. Remember, I was a small school-bus guy.
posted by:
69whisper (
reply)
post date:
02.23.07 (8:34 am)
someone asked a wise man, "what is free will and what is fate? as free will rests with humans and fate with God. so if we have free will to do everything then why fate? or if everthing is written as fate by God then whats free will?
the wise man asked him to stand up and lift one foot from the ground.
the man did.
then he asked the man to lift the other foot too.
He could not.
the wise man concluded, "ability of lifting one foot is free will and unability to lift the other is fate."
posted by:
LadyG (
reply)
post date:
02.23.07 (10:28 am)
Excellent post PD.
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
02.23.07 (10:52 am)
Sage screeching it is.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
02.24.07 (6:09 am)
Reply to: 69whisper
Ah, but what then of our ability to jump?
posted by:
69whisper (
reply)
post date:
02.24.07 (6:39 am)
Reply to: surrogate
i was expecting this question. my answer is :
"when fate shakes hands with free will, we are able to jump".
Jump Jump..... Jump :)
posted by:
lisa (
reply)
post date:
02.25.07 (8:24 am)
this is not a popular message, especially lately, in light of the feel good christianity i have been encountering. i see my relationship with God as the same as any other relationship i've ever been it. it takes work. it takes discipline. the pay off is a bit better than other relationships though... ;)
posted by:
FinalyFree (
reply)
post date:
02.25.07 (10:24 pm)
Thank you for such a great post Pastor! The guest speaker at that Youth Conference I attended in Jan. made this very point, we're all so busy asking God for this and that we rarely stop and examine ourselves and ask what WE can do! And I couldn't agree with you more concerning the 'satisfied' attitude we Christians have when it comes to our spiritual relationships with God.
posted by:
test (
reply)
post date:
05.14.07 (8:01 am)
test
