Tag Archives: godliness

Spiritual disciplines

 

A Mighty Fortress is our God

 

This portion of 2 Peter hardly seems to need me to add anything necessary. These words speak truth to who I need to be as a disciple of Jesus.

Simeon[a] Peter, a servant[b] and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to[c] his own glory and excellence,[d] by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,[e] and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities[f] are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers,[g] be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. – 2 Peter 1:1-11 ESV

Maybe this begs a question, “Is my church producing people like this?” This probably leads to another question, “How?” I think this is where spiritual disciplines make an entrance.

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Prepared for prayer

 

Chicago Mass Choir- “I Pray We’ll Be Ready”

 

When we are talking about knowledge, we are talking about learning what is the truth and living in that. Psalm 1 provides the positive direction to making that happen. There is direction for my roots to go down into the richness of the kingdom of God. It is here that my life produces fruit. The mark of a disciplined disciple is that they do what needs to be done when it needs to be done.

Psalm 1 provides the incentive to pray. It starts with happiness – do I want to be happy? As prayer is displayed as a pensive prayer (meditation), prayer starts with listening for God, not talking.

But his delight is in the law[b] of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night. – Psalm 1:2 ESV

I am called, as one walking in a right relationship with God to continually run from the influence of wickedness and passionately embrace godliness. Happy people do not just do the right thing, they love the right thing.

A right relationship with God does not refer to having my sins forgiven so that I get into heaven when I die. Nor is it the minimum requirement for such salvation. Actually, there is no minimum requirement for salvation. A right relationship with God is becoming a disciple – someone who conformed their entire life to look like their master.

So the implied definition here is that I live dependent on meditating on the word of God. Kelly R Baker has some great thoughts in her blog – Thriving in Christ Together.  

What a Thriving Disciple of Christ Does and Doesn’t Do

Being saturated in God’s Word is a mark of a disciple who seeks to know God better. Also included in that to ask Him to hear His voice, and long for Him to change my heart through His Word.

There is a rhythm – a disciple reflects and responds to God’s Word on a regular basis in order to live as God intends. 

When I meditate, I simply chew on the Word of God.

 

 

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