Why Discipline Myself?
Image by Pam Patterson from Pixabay
Pastors Joe Godwin and John Mohler exercise regularly. In Joe’s case he used to run, but now he mostly bikes and swims. John still gets in 10 miles of running a week. I admire this about them.
One time someone asked Joe, “What are you training for?” He said, “Nothing really, it’s just a part of my life, I need it.” These men are good stewards of their bodies. There have been injuries that have kept them from exercising, or seasons of weather that have made it more difficult. But if one of them goes a few days without some form of exercise he starts to make comments like, “I need to get out on my bike this afternoon,” or, “I haven’t gotten my jog in yet.”
Not only has this been an example to me in stewarding my own body, but it is an example to me of how to view the stewardship of my time in the Word individually and with my family. Part of the trap of Christian pragmatism is that we are always doing Christian stuff for something, (e.g., a class, certification, gold stars, small group, etc.) But when it comes to reading the Word of God privately or as a family to catechize our kids in the truth, it is not because we are going to take a test, or because my wife and I are training to compete with other parents. No, it is because God is the center point of our lives. His words are central to our lives, and we need them, because we need Him. Spending time in the Word individually and as a family is just good stewardship of our lives and our families.
As with physical exercise, it is always hard to start back up if you’ve taken a long break. Also, there are seasons and family dynamics that altar how we do things, but as fathers and mothers, if we go a few days without enjoying God’s Word, it is good if we feel the tug, “I need to look at the schedule and ensure we get back into some Bible time together.” Not motivated by guilt, but by a need for God. Or we might pray, “Lord, how might I speak of the stories of Your faithfulness as I go on my way today?” Or, “God, help me to mediate on the story I read this morning.”
After a few days of sports practices or evenings with unexpected visitors, it is good if you or your spouse say to the other, “Man, how can we make the Word more central in our home in this season? We need it.”
Mix-it up, make changes, be creative, but don’t give up! You are not doing it for God’s acceptance, but from God’s acceptance.
The benefits of making the Word central in our lives and homes are evident all throughout the Bible.
“Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” – John 17:17
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” – Matthew 4:4
“From childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:15-17
Some ideas:
Something worth doing is worth doing poorly. Wouldn’t it be great if someone asked you, “So what are your reading the Bible for?” and you said, “Nothing really, it’s a part of my life, I need it.”
I need time in His Word because I need Him.
Next week we’ll continue with Part 2 of “The Whole Gospel for the Whole Man”
Persevere,
Joey Turner
Pastor of Missions and Adults
One time someone asked Joe, “What are you training for?” He said, “Nothing really, it’s just a part of my life, I need it.” These men are good stewards of their bodies. There have been injuries that have kept them from exercising, or seasons of weather that have made it more difficult. But if one of them goes a few days without some form of exercise he starts to make comments like, “I need to get out on my bike this afternoon,” or, “I haven’t gotten my jog in yet.”
Not only has this been an example to me in stewarding my own body, but it is an example to me of how to view the stewardship of my time in the Word individually and with my family. Part of the trap of Christian pragmatism is that we are always doing Christian stuff for something, (e.g., a class, certification, gold stars, small group, etc.) But when it comes to reading the Word of God privately or as a family to catechize our kids in the truth, it is not because we are going to take a test, or because my wife and I are training to compete with other parents. No, it is because God is the center point of our lives. His words are central to our lives, and we need them, because we need Him. Spending time in the Word individually and as a family is just good stewardship of our lives and our families.
As with physical exercise, it is always hard to start back up if you’ve taken a long break. Also, there are seasons and family dynamics that altar how we do things, but as fathers and mothers, if we go a few days without enjoying God’s Word, it is good if we feel the tug, “I need to look at the schedule and ensure we get back into some Bible time together.” Not motivated by guilt, but by a need for God. Or we might pray, “Lord, how might I speak of the stories of Your faithfulness as I go on my way today?” Or, “God, help me to mediate on the story I read this morning.”
After a few days of sports practices or evenings with unexpected visitors, it is good if you or your spouse say to the other, “Man, how can we make the Word more central in our home in this season? We need it.”
Mix-it up, make changes, be creative, but don’t give up! You are not doing it for God’s acceptance, but from God’s acceptance.
The benefits of making the Word central in our lives and homes are evident all throughout the Bible.
“Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” – John 17:17
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” – Matthew 4:4
“From childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:15-17
Some ideas:
- Ask God for help.
- Be gracious with yourself.
- Start where you are, not where you’re supposed to be.
- Set small goals.
- Start when the kids are young, but it is never too late if they are older.
- Focus on the narratives of scripture.
- Put passages on some walls, mirrors, and cabinets in the house.
- Make a plan the night before.
Something worth doing is worth doing poorly. Wouldn’t it be great if someone asked you, “So what are your reading the Bible for?” and you said, “Nothing really, it’s a part of my life, I need it.”
I need time in His Word because I need Him.
Next week we’ll continue with Part 2 of “The Whole Gospel for the Whole Man”
Persevere,
Joey Turner
Pastor of Missions and Adults
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