Did You Know – Martin Lloyd Jones
“The Christian life is impossible without discipline. We must control ourselves, we must divide up our time, we must realize, in a world that is so set against us, that if we do not discipline our spiritual life we shall certaily find ourselves in trouble”. Martin Lloyd Jones
Not sure about you but I have found the above inspiration by brother Jones to be spot on. As Christians we must discipline ourselves against the desires of our old nature and discipline ourselves to live lives that will be pleasing to our Lord and Savior. The apostle Paul’s addressed this in his letter to the Ephesians. Consider > “17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:17-31)
Putting on the new man (vs.24) is a continuous action beginning when we come to Jesus Christ, this takes disciple. We will fail miserably however, if we try to live a life of holiness and rigtheousness by our own strength. To be successful we must be filled with the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit. We must allow Him to work in and through us. Our part is to daily put on the whole armour of God. Returning to Paul’s letter read: “11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints”(Ephesians 6”11-18).
True Christians should want to live holy, righteous lives and to be pleasing to the One who makes it possible, God the Holy Spirit. Disciplining one’s self is difficult, but it it possible.
Steve