Discipline

Aug 17, 2021

"Dear friends, you have always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear."

- St. Paul, Philippians 2:12

"This is the secret that real artists know and wannabe writers don't. When we all sit down EACH day to do our work, power concentrates around us. The muse takes note of our discipline. She approves. We have earned her favor. When we sit down and work, we become like a magnetized steel rod that attracts iron filings. Ideas come. Insights are born."

- Steven Pressfield, The War of Art

When you walk into a gym, you can tell who knows what they're doing and who doesn't. You have people who are talking on the treadmills instead of walking on the treadmills. You have people wearing spandex Under Armour who should be wearing baggy sweats. You have the newbie who's listening to headphones and singing out loud. But then… as you look around you see someone who's where you'd like to be. So, if you go up to them and ask, "Hey, you look great… tell me, how did you get in such great shape?" I've never had anyone say, "I don't know." "I don't know… I just ate Twinkies and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and my biceps got big." Nope! Never heard that. What I did hear was the discipline and hard work they invested over time that produced the desired results.

Listen, there are some things in the Christian life that you cannot pray yourself into and out of.

I know that sounds heretical… but it's true. It will take spiritual discipline to experience all that Jesus wants for your life. It will take something more than desire. It's only when desire steps over into discipline that your spiritual life will be everything you hoped it would be.

I was at the Nike store in Carlsbad several weeks back and a fella came up to me and said, "Pastor Harry, is that you?" I laughed and said, "Yup!" Recognizing him, I asked how his wife, Sally, was… and he looked down and said, "Well, we divorced..." "In fact," he said, "I've been married and divorced twice since I saw you last… and my life is still something of a wreck." "But," he smiled, "you will always be my pastor… and CRB will always be my church." "Then..." I replied, "I will see you in church next week."

Because the truth is, I had not seen him in church for years. Now again, we did not have long to talk, and I do not know the specifics, but one thing I do know is that you cannot be hit and miss on the fundamentals of the Christian life… like reading the Bible on a consistent basis, praying to Jesus every day, attending church regularly, battling to turn vices into virtues, cheerfully investing in God's work, worshipping Jesus in spirit and in truth… and expect to transform spiritual flabbiness into spiritual muscle. It takes discipline.

Here's what I want for you… I don't want anything from you… I want something for you! By Christmas of this year, I want you to know Jesus better than you have ever known Him before. That's what I want for you! But it's not going to happen just because you desire it! What did the Apostle Paul say?... "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12)... that is, it's hard work! But the benefits are life-enhancing beyond belief: a personal confidence that God has given you capacity for every challenge, a strong self-Image that convinces your heart every day that you are loved and valued no matter what someone says or does to you, a practical wisdom that guides you in making the best choices… the right decisions in all the situations before you, a present grace for yourself and for others, a steady love for yourself and for others that does not quit or diminish, a resilient peace that keeps your mind at rest no matter the chaos that swirls about… That's what I want for you!

There was a little boy in Sunday school who was listening to the teacher talk about Jesus while he was munching on an apple. Suddenly, the apple popped out of his hand and landed on the floor. Immediately, as he picked it up, and put it back in his mouth, the teacher exclaimed, "Johnny, don't eat that!... It has Germs on it!" Frustrated, Johnny says, "Germs and Jesus… Germs and Jesus… That's all I hear about… And I ain't seen a-one of ‘em!"

I know there's a whole lot of people out there, like me, who are so freakin' busy…

you're life is cluttered up with so much stuff… so many issues… tons of demands… and you're at your wit's end… feeling weak, frustrated and powerless… and it's been a long time since you have seen or heard from Jesus. So, here's my promise to you: You begin to set down a new training regiment in your spiritual relationship with Jesus --

1) Select a place… my spiritual gym is an old green chair in my room.

2) Start in the Book of John and read one chapter a day along with the Daily Devotional.

3) Talk to Jesus every day… Tell Him how awesome He is… Thank Him for saving you and being with you… Talk to Him about whatever is on your heart and what's in your day.

4) Pick one thing in your life you'd like to Improve every week… one thing, not ten things… like patience for example… and take that into your week and work It!

5) Stay in church!

-- And I promise you, you will begin to hear the God of the universe whispering to you in those moments, "I love you!" "I'm proud of you!" And… don't be surprised if people start coming up to you and asking… "Wow! How did you develop those spiritual biceps?" "Dude, that's some serious spiritual endurance… I would've given up five weeks ago!" "Girl, you got the wisdom thing down… where did you get such wise counsel?” "Whoa! I could never have forgiven them for that… I'm impressed!" "Boy oh Boy! You found the joy quotient… how can you stay optimistic in such a hard time?"