Spiritual Discipline

2Peter 1:5-7

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

Good morning ladies,

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones is a blunt man. I’m sure he offended many people in his congregation during the time he was minister of Westminster Chapel in London.

In chapter fifteen of his book ­Spiritual Depression Its Causes and Cure­ he says that one reason Christians are spiritually depressed is because they lack discipline.

Some people lack discipline simply because they do not know they are supposed to do anything. They think that all they need to do is “abide in the Lord” and everything will be great. But that usually doesn’t work. As soon as trials hit abiding alone is not enough.

Other people lack discipline because they procrastinate or they are just plain lazy when it comes to spiritual things. They have plenty of time for other recreational activities and they may be hardworking disciplined people. They just lack discipline in the spiritual arena.

They don’t pray or fast or meditate on the Word of God like they should and they wonder why they are depressed. Or they give God ten minutes and think that is enough. It isn’t.

So many people say that they would give anything to have but a vestige of the knowledge that the saints had, “If only I had that joy, I would give the whole world for that –why cannot I have the experience of the warm heart?” they say. The answer is that they have never really sought it.

Look at the life of any great saint of the church and you will see that the greatest characteristic of their life was discipline and order.

Personally, I think the writer of Hebrews put it best: No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Love,
Jill