Basic Christian Disciplines: Keep it Going!

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The coming New Year poses another opportunity for Christian growth. However, along the way, it is also accompanied by various challenges. Knowing this fact, therefore, we must strive forward and keep going ahead. Tom Landry emphasized, “The job of a football coach is to make men do what they don't want to do, to achieve what they've always wanted to be.” It begins by remembering we are not alone in our battles. We are cheered on towards achieving the prize “…by so great a cloud of witnesses…” The Christian journey is a marathon, not a sprint and perseverance is the attitude required for completing our Christian race. The Scriptures are filled with encouragement for keeping us going.

·      Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24

·      Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. 1 Corinthians 9:26

·      You were taught to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires. Ephesians 4:22

·      You need to persevere, so that after you have done God's will, you will receive what He has promised. Hebrews 10:36

With these promises in tow, let’s keep going by applying some basic Christian disciplines. First, maintaining a discipline of daily immersing ourselves in reading the Scriptures. Its is keeping God’s word at the front and center of our life (Joshua 1:8; Colossians 3:16). Phillip Brooks explained: “The Bible is like a telescope. If a man looks through his telescope he sees worlds beyond; but if he looks at his telescope, he does not see anything but that.” Next, maintaining a discipline of prayer and fasting. We need God’s power operating at maximum efficiency (1 Samuel 7:6; Luke 2:37; Acts 13:1-3). Marilyn Hickey emphasized, “Fasting and praying are Bible-based disciplines that are appropriate for all believers of all ages throughout all centuries in all parts of the world.” Another vital discipline is living by faith, not by sight. It sees life with eyes open for God at work (2 Kings 6:17; 2 Corinthians 5:7). Somebody said,

To walk by faith is to fear God more than man; to obey the Bible even when it conflicts with man’s commands; to choose righteousness over sin, no matter what the cost; to trust God in every circumstance; and to believe God rewards those who seek Him, regardless of who says otherwise.[1]

Next, maintaining discipline in serving others as Jesus did (1 Samuel 12:24; 1 Peter 4:10). James Packer clarified, “When the New Testament speaks of ministering to the saints, it means not primarily preaching to them but devoting time, trouble, and substance to giving them all the practical help possible.” Therefore, serving others is a mark of Christian discipleship. Lastly, maintaining a discipline of a worshipping lifestyle. Each day, there’s clear intent in creating an atmosphere of lifting Jesus higher above everything else (Hebrews 13:15; Colossians 3:16). Delesslyn A. Kennebrew wrote, “True worship, in other words, is defined by the priority we place on who God is in our lives and where God is on our list of priorities.”

What’s the bottom line for 2019? Somebody shared this story as an added glimpse of how we can fuel our Christian journey in 2019:

There is a story about a great pianist who had just finished a concert and the crowd stood and gave him a raving applause. However, the renowned pianist did not seem satisfied. Only when a man in the rafters stood and began to clap did the pianist smile and bow before the audience. The man in the stands was his teacher.[2]

Just like the story above, the pursuit of spiritual growth is to know Christ and Him crucified. The focus must be clear, and our reason is firmly entrenched in Jesus Christ alone. When we do, our Christian journey is secure and victorious even in the midst of various challenges because we are “looking unto Jesus the author and the perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

Let’s talk again!

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[1] What does it mean to walk by faith not by sight?. https://www.gotquestions.org/walk-by-faith-not-by-sight.html

[2] 13. Pursuing Spiritual Maturity | Bible.org. https://bible.org/seriespage/13-pursuing-spiritual-maturity

Showing our Faith by our Works

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We are living in a time of faith-filled words only. Jesus walked His talk and expected His people to do the same on a daily basis. As Jesus' disciples, doing good works is the result of our faith in God.  

The apostle James provided an important principle to live by: What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? (2:14, ESV). James expounded further in practical terms: If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? (2:15-16, ESV). He, then, concluded the matter, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (2:17, ESV). David C. Grabbe explained it this way:

In God's mind, true faith or living faith is virtually synonymous with obedience and works. Faith and obedience are interchangeable, even though they are not specifically the same thing. This is just like the Bible's usage of mind, heart, and spirit—they are not specifically the same thing, yet they are so interconnected that they really cannot be separated.

There are two things we need to avoid. First, we must avoid having rhetorical faith where speaking faith-filled words but lacking any manifestation of good works, thereby produces nothing.  Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers described, “Faith must be embodied in acts: "faith, without acts of faith, is but a dream." "The two cannot be separated, for they are given in one by God to man, and from him go back in one to God.” What’s the biblical application? John (the Baptist) replied, "Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same" (Luke 3:11, NIV).  

The other kind to avoid is a dead faith. Having a dead faith is characterized as being a spiritual person having only faith but without manifestation of good works. Steven J. Cole explained, “Genuine saving faith manifests itself in good deeds. If a person claims to have faith but has no resulting works, his claim is suspect.” Jesus Himself provided the means to keep our faith alive and manifesting good works: “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16, NIV).

Maintaining the impact of showing how real faith works must be felt within and outside the sphere of our influence. It begins by having real faith producing good works seen and felt by the unbelieving community. It is the kind of faith with a distinct purpose of glorifying God as they witness its application. Next, real faith operating through good works is attained when Bible-believing Christians becoming doers of God’s Word and in their actions testifies of God’s changing power in one’s life (James 1:22a). William Booth shared this excellent insight:

Faith and works should travel side by side, step answering to step, like the legs of men walking. First faith, and then works; and then faith again, and then works again -- until they can scarcely distinguish which is the one and which is the other.

Finally, real faith through good works is affirmed when the needs in the community of believers are met especially during tough times as a reminder of God’s presence working through His people (Titus 3:14).  Martin Luther explained, “The true, living faith, which the Holy Spirit instills into the heart, simply cannot be idle.”  

In summary, here are three things we need to remember:

1.      Real faith leads us to do good works, therefore, never miss an opportunity to do so.

2.      Real faith with good works is a testimony to God’s Word of meeting people’s needs, therefore, let our faith equals our generosity in doing good works.

3.      Real faith only impacts people’s lives when our good works become an application of what we preach about God’s provision, therefore, let’s practice what we preach.

Let’s talk again!

Applying Right Judgments

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Someone said, “The first reason why we should be slow and careful in the judgments we pass upon our fellow man is our too frequent ignorance of the facts. A fragment of anything is apt to be deceptive, and all that we mortals show to one another is but a fragment of our true selves. How little we know!” Most especially the Scriptures teach a valuable principle, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment” (John 7:24, ESV).

In understanding what being judgmental is all about, Gregg Henriques, a Ph.D., stated, “The word judgmental in the dictionary there are generally two meanings, which help us sort out the issues. One has to do with making judgments; so, yes, at a basic semantic level, making judgments is being judgmental.”

There were two clear examples from the Scriptures about making wrong judgments. Unfortunately, they judged based on appearances. Eli looked on the outward appearance, and judging by outward appearance a drunken woman had come into the tabernacle and deserved to be put out and rebuked:

As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. 13Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman.14And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 15But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. 16Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation” (1 Samuel 1:12-16, ESV).

Even the prophet Samuel when tasked by God when looking at Eliab saw him as qualified but rebuffed by God:

When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.” 7But the LORDsaid to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7, ESV).

From a modern context, Philip Yancey shared this insight on what not to do when making judgments:

Christians fail to communicate to others because we ignore basic principles in relationship. When we make condescending judgments or proclaim lofty words that don't translate into action, or simply speak without first listening, we fail to love - and thus deter a thirsty world from Living Water.

On the other hand, the right way of judging according to John W. Ritenbaugh includes four factors that are critical when we judge and correct others:[1]

1.     We must take care not to step beyond our rights as a fellow servant. Our rights extend only as far as being a brother, not the Master.

2.     We must correct for the right reasons. Our intent must be one of deep respect and love for the other.

3.     We must have a godly attitude. We must be humble, considering our own weaknesses and limitations.

4.     We must correct in kindness and gentleness, remembering that we are trying to heal a spiritual wound, not rub salt in it.

In the end, we must look at the Scriptures and follow clearly on what is consistently done and expected from God’s people at all times: “Hear the disputes between your brothers, and judge fairly between a man and his brother or a foreign resident” (Deuteronomy 1:16). In addition, “The LORD of Hosts says: 'Administer true justice. Show loving devotion and compassion to one another (Zechariah 7:9).

What’s the bottom-line? I like how John C. Maxwell summarized applying right judgments in this way: “Earn the right to be heard by listening to others. Seek to understand a situation before making judgments about it.” When we follow the Scriptural prescription and advice carefully from some experts, enduring relationships between friends, families, and church mates is firmly secured especially when right judgments are applied.

Let’s talk again!

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[1] Retrieved from https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/PERSONAL/k/536/Judgment-Tolerance-Correction.htm.