Wednesday Bible Blurb “Spiritual Discipline” 7 3 2024
High School, 1975. 4:45 A.M. Monday through Friday. Buzz, buzz, buzz goes the alarm clock. I get up and prepare for another day on the swim team. In the water by 6 A.M. for two hours of workout. Classes from nine to three and then two more hours in the pool. Home by 5:30. Dinner, homework, yardwork, no time to do anything but prepare for bed by 9 P.M. Start the next day over again at 4:45 A.M. Buzz, buzz, buzz goes the alarm clock. Discipline is not a bad word. I had to be disciplined in my actions and daily routine to accomplish my physical goals in athletics.
Poor Richard said, “Drive thy business, let not that drive thee; and Early to Bed, and early to rise, makes a Man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”[1] Old Benjamin Franklin (Masquerading as Poor Richard) was full of wit and wisdom. “He that riseth late must trot all Day, and shall scarce overtake his Business at Night;”[2] Benjamin Franklin was disciplined. Have we ever considered we need to work hard at God’s spiritual disciplines? Discipline is not a bad word; it is a word of action where we set our daily routine to be in tune with God and His plan for us. It can be thought of as the practice of training oneself to follow rules or a code of behavior.
Theologically, there are many spiritual disciplines which can give us great help in our journey with Jesus. We must, “remember, however, that these disciplines are merely tools to help us grow.”[3] The following spiritual disciplines will help us draw closer to God and serve our fellow mankind in a more Godly and loving way.
Solitude and Silence. Prayer. Journaling. Study and meditation. Fasting and charity. Fellowship. Simplicity, stewardship and sacrifice. Worship. Service. Witness.[4] This partial list of spiritual disciplines can give us a head start on our worship of God in our daily lives. Discipline takes effort and we must set aside TIME to be with our maker. Poor Richard said, “If Time be of all things the most precious, wasting Time must be, …the greatest Prodigality…Lost Time is never found again; and what we call Time enough, always proves little enough;”[5]
Are we setting aside a daily time (Or times) to pray, study, meditate and to work on our spiritual discipline in obedience to God? We must put in the effort to grow in His knowledge and grace. Daniel, who served under two empires prayed three times a day, even when he knew he would be punished for it. (Dan. 6:10). This is spiritual discipline, a mighty fortress from God for our example.
The apostle Paul suffered much for the sake of the gospel. He was imprisoned, beaten with whips five times, shipwrecked three times, stoned, beaten with rods, in constant peril from Gentiles and Jews, persecuted, hungry, wet, tired, cold sleepless often. (See II Cor. 11:22-33). But through it all he held to the spiritual disciplines as listed above. Paul accomplished much because he would discipline himself to obey and follow God. Like Paul, we must be disciplined in our approach to our spiritual life. Set aside a special alone time every morning to meditate, pray, study the Word of God. Be like Daniel and pray three times a day. Stay in contact with our Creator and exercise the spiritual disciplines throughout each and every day.
James, the little brother of Jesus gives us several examples of spiritual disciplines in action. Abraham obeyed God. Rahab saved the messengers (Spies). Both Abraham and Rahab took action to work with God. We too must take action in the form of spiritual disciplines to work with God. “…so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:26b). Exercise the spiritual disciplines.
Exercising the spiritual disciplines is like exercising in the pool every morning and afternoon. The more you exercise the better you get. It has been said, “Practice makes perfect.” The reality is, “Perfect practice, makes perfect.” Exercise the spiritual disciplines, set your valuable time aside, put God first (Ex. 20:3) and grow in His grace. Poor Richard said, “Well done is better than well said.” And “No gains without pains.” It takes effort and work to follow our God.
My daily routine of discipline in high school and college paid off. I received swimming scholarships, a great job in recreation and I did well enough to be the swim coach for Mr. Universe. What of our daily spiritual disciplines? Will we win a scholarship from God for our eternal salvation (Not by works but by grace). Are we disciplined in our spiritual actions and daily routine to accomplish our spiritual goals?
Exercise the spiritual disciplines all day, every day.
[1] Benjamin Franklin, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin & Selections From His Writings (New York: Random House, 1944), 218.
[2] Franklin, 218.
[3] Keneth Boa, Conformed to His Image, Biblical, Practical Approaches to Spiritual Formation, revised Ed. (Grand Rapids, Zondervan Academic, 2020), 72.
[4] Boa, 72-76.
[5] Franklin, 218.
