For my first actual blog entry, that does more than just introduce the site, I thought I would start off with something simple. The following quote was made by Dallas Williard and was taken from his book The Spirit of the Disciplines. I found the quote when reading through Devotional Classics by Richard J. Foster & James Bryan Smith (co-editors) last year, and it has stuck with me.
“The Disciple is one who, intent upon becoming Christlike and so dwelling in his ‘faith and practice,’ systematically and progressively rearranges his affairs to that end.”
— Dallas Willard
I was struck by this quote because too often I find myself thinking (or at least acting like) the Christian life takes no effort. If I want to become more obedient to Christ, I must systematically make and complete steps in order to do so. If I want to become a better witness for Christ, I must rearrange my affairs to actually meet and befriend unbelievers.
While I think many things comes naturally for a growing Christian, we must never assume a passive role. Our intent should be on becoming more Christlike, and that takes work.
4 Comments
Reminds me of Phil 2:12 …..”work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good purpose”…
There is also Romans 12:1 which says “Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship”
I have some sermon notes from A. Rogers in which he talks about being a living sacrifice and the need to continually lay ourselves on this sacrificial altar.
He talked also about the tendency of a christian, or the sacrifice, to “slide off” the altar, in the spiritual sense.
The thing that would hold the animal sacrifice on the altar were two large clasps or cinch hooks. In the spiritual life these two hooks could be called “discipline” and “devotion”.
Perhaps it is the discipline that needs to be systematic and the devotion that needs to be progressive?
I had not heard (or don’t remember) that sermon from Adrian Rogers, but that’s pretty neat. I definitely think that discipline needs to be systematic and devotion needs to be progressive as you said.
Right, and discipline and devotion as part of the christian life takes work, as your original post pointed out.
I think maybe we can get confused with the idea of working “out” your salvation with working “for” your salvation, which of course we cannot do.
I was reminded in a novel that work is definitely not a curse as the result of the fall of man.
In Genesis 2:15 it says “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to “work” it and take care of it. This charge was given to Adam before he sinned.
So work on the contrary is a blessing from God instead of a curse.
God also “rested from all His work” on the seventh day- Gen 2:2.
So since God worked and continues to work, why should we expect the christian life to be effortless?
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