22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22 – 23, New International Version)
for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13, New International Version)
Theme: The Wisdom of Discipline
Title: Discipline and Deity
Reflection:
Twelve-step programs such as Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) refer to a “power greater than ourselves,” which for many translates to a deity. It should come as no surprise that there has been a longstanding debate about the necessity of including God or any higher power in programs like AA. In many facets of life, there are examples of people who have exhibited extraordinary discipline without any reliance on God. So, why does God have to factor into the equation? Why not rely on individual will power and if necessary, use resources such as self-help books, coaches, or gurus?
I believe our Scripture passages today address these questions for the believer. The passage in Galatians declares that God is not a bystander in the matter of discipline because self-control (which can also be translated as self-discipline) is included in the fruit of the Spirit. The passage from Philippians reminds us that God works in us to fulfill his purpose. When God is involved He fulfills what is right.
Conclusion:
We do not have to pursue self-discipline by ourselves! We want God in the equation because he is the essential source of our ability to fulfill His purpose. Without Him in the equation, other purposes can be fulfilled with discipline but there is no guarantee that they are God’s purposes. As Christians, we have the opportunity to show the world why and how God makes a difference. How can you show the world the difference God makes in your pursuit of self-discipline? I would love to hear your thoughts.
Contributor: Norman Christie