1 Corinthians 9:24 – “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.  Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.  So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

Today’s message hits home for me.  I was reading this passage earlier, and recounting experiences in my own life.  The Lord was gracious to call me at a young age, but by no means have I lived a perfect life.  God has used times of pain and suffering to grow my faith, and sanctify me.  The good news of the gospel is that Jesus accomplished for me, what I could never accomplish for myself, He defeated the power of sin, and covered me in His righteousness.  That is the grace of God to me and all who have believed.  Without fail, every time I have faltered in my race with Christ, it has been two-fold 1) I have neglected Godly disciplines/wisdom and 2) I have taken my eyes off of God and His will to put them on myself

When I talk about “The Discipline of Grace”, it is meant to be a contradiction.  Grace cannot be earned, it is a gift of God.  What I do mean is that God, who loves us, has spoken to us through His Word about ways to abide in Him, and make our joy complete in our fellowship with Him.  Every day, we have choices to make – we can pursue joy in ourselves/the world, which offers immediate happiness, but leads to brokenness, or we can pursue a race with Christ, which does not offer immediate joy usually, but does give peace, and an abiding joy and happiness.  So we prepare ourselves.  We recognize that we’re living today in light of eternity.  We discipline our lives to be careful who we surround ourselves with in close fellowship.  We love all people, but we accept counsel only from those who will point us to God and His will.  We love our non-believing neighbors and friends, but we are careful in how we walk, not to put ourselves in temptation.  We intentionally read our Bibles not to just learn more, but to delight our hearts in the knowledge of the glory of God, and all that He is for us in Jesus.   We pray, as those who realize they cannot take another step unless God is with them.  We look for brothers and sisters in Christ who will grow our affection for God, and schedule time with them.  We also ask those people into our lives to hold us accountable, knowing our weakness.  

Above, I said there were two things that have caused me to fall away from close fellowship with God.  If our hope is to grow more joy in God and more like Christ each day, everything above are disciplines that will guard that goal.  These you will find will be a great burden unless you discipline yourself to one thing – In light of the gospel, decide to set our purpose each day to pursue God wholeheartedly.  Seek God in the morning.  Seek God throughout the day.  Seek God in the evening.  Brothers and sisters, I have fallen as many times as any of you, but I am encouraged in the Lord that we should never let what has happened in the past determine today or tomorrow.  Moreover, God will never leave you or forsake you, He is for you, and wants the best for you always.

Philippians 3:12-14 – “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  

Know as you read this, you have been prayed for, and are loved by God.

Grace and Peace,

Adam