40 Days of Discipline


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40 Days of Discipline:  Day 31 – Creation

24 How many are your works, Lord!  In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. 25 There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number— living things both large and small. (Psalm 104:24-25, New International Version)

7 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; 8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. 9 Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? 10 In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:7-10, New International Version)

20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (Romans 1:20, New International Version)

Theme:  Rejoicing and Thanksgiving

Context:

Thanks again for the excellent comments on yesterday’s post!  Today we turn our attention to the discipline of seeing God through His creation. 

Meditating on God’s creative acts is an excellent avenue to rejoicing and thanksgiving.  Whether it is the grandeur of nature (e.g., over 3,000 tons of water flowing over Niagara Falls every second), or the miniscule particles essential to human existence (e.g., over 85 billion neurons in the human brain), or other products of God’s creation, we are drawn to rejoice and give thanks. 

Bible Passages:   

Please study the Scripture passages above and consider the questions below.

Questions:

How does creation inspire you to rejoice and give thanks to God?  Are you especially in awe of any particular aspects of creation?    

Please leave a comment.  We would love to hear from you.


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40 Days of Discipline:  Day 30 – Counsel

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16, New International Version)

Theme:  Rejoicing and Thanksgiving

Context:

Thank you for your comments on yesterday’s post.  There was unanimous agreement that rejoicing and giving God thanks for advisors He places at our disposal is something we should do more of. 

Yesterday we focused on the benefits of receiving counsel.  Today we will turn our attention to giving counsel.

The Bible sets the gold standard for providing counsel to others when it says, ‘speak the truth in love.’    Unfortunately, this wise instruction is often perverted by ulterior motives.  Sometimes, people will use this verse when they want to give someone a piece of their mind and cover it under the guise of truth and love.  In those circumstances, benefits for the person being counseled can be lost.  Recently, I read how a group of monastic believers who lived in the desert of Egypt in the 4th century, applied ‘speaking the truth in love’ in an interesting way.  When counseling others they strived to be stand-ins or conduits for truth (i.e., God’s truth).  In other words, their focus was on humbly seeking God’s answer for the person seeking counsel.  Sometimes that means not saying anything until God’s truth on a particular issue is clear.  The thought of being a stand-in for God’s truth for our neighbors is humbling and inspiring, and certainly cause for rejoicing and giving thanks. 

Bible Passage:   

In our Bible passage above, the admonition to speak the truth in love, is provided in context.    Please study the passage and consider the question below.

Question:

Do you think that ‘standing in for God’s truth’ can be practically applied to the opportunities you have to counsel others?       

Please leave a comment.  We would love to hear from you.


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40 Days of Discipline:  Day 29 – Counsel

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. (Proverbs 15:22, New International Version)

Theme:  Rejoicing and Thanksgiving

Context:

This week we will focus on the disciplines of Counsel, Creation, and Sabbath.  We will start with Counsel. 

Accepting that there are benefits to seeking good advice is noncontroversial.  Seeking advice is very much a part of our daily lives, especially in our interactions with experts and professionals (e.g., health care professionals, teachers, and tax advisors).  However, we are sometimes reluctant to seek advice because it makes us appear ill-informed or weak.  As a result, we sometimes miss opportunities to thank God for benefits he has decided to give us through our interactions with other members of our community.    

Bible Passage:   

Our Bible passage today reminds us why it is wise to seek good counsel.  Please study the passage and consider the question below.

Question:

Do you practice giving God thanks for the advisors he has placed at your disposal?     

Please leave a comment.  We would love to hear from you.


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40 Days of Discipline:  Day 28 – Review

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, New International Version) 

Theme:  Rejoicing and Thanksgiving

Service and Stewardship are certainly exciting avenues to rejoicing and thanksgiving.  Today is dedicated to reviewing what we have learned over the past five days.  Please take the opportunity to catch up on any comments you have missed throughout the week.

Question:

Have any of the passages this week been particularly inspiring as you seek to perform acts of service and stewardship while rejoicing and giving thanks? 

Please leave a comment.  We would love to hear from you.


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40 Days of Discipline:  Day 27 – Stewardship

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:10-11, New International Version)  

Theme:  Rejoicing and Thanksgiving

Context:

Thanks to all who shared the stewardship principle they find encouraging.   We will conclude our consideration of the discipline of stewardship today.

We have all experienced being placed in positions of responsibility by someone else.  It may have been our parents, friends, teachers or work colleagues.  If it is a really impactful responsibility we rejoice and give thanks for being trusted to use our skills and resources to fulfill the responsibility.  Such is the case for Christians, because God expects us to be good stewards of the resources he has given us. 

Bible Passage:   

Our passage today declares that through God’s grace, believers all have gifts and are expected to be faithful stewards of these gifts.  Note the rejoicing that occurs at the end of the passage.      

Please study the passage and consider the question below.

Question:

In what ways do you express your gratitude for being trusted to be a steward of the gifts God has given you?          

Please leave a comment.  We would love to hear from you.


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 26 – Stewardship

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”  10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.  12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!  (2 Corinthians 9:6-15, New International Version)

Theme:  Rejoicing and Thanksgiving

Context:

Thanks to all those who shared their insights over the last three days as we considered how the discipline of Service supports a lifestyle of rejoicing and thanksgiving.  Today we turn our attention to Stewardship. 

As we closed out our deliberations on the discipline of Service, we saw that a counter-cultural view of greatness results in rejoicing and thanksgiving.  In the case of Stewardship, a counter-cultural view of resource management also leads to rejoicing and thanksgiving.  The world says receiving resources is reason for rejoicing and thanksgiving.  There is nothing wrong with that line of reasoning, but the Bible says if we use our resources (not just money) for God’s kingdom, that is an even better reason for rejoicing and thanksgiving.  

Bible Passage:   

Our passage today is packed with great insights about stewardship including the following:  God is the source of abundant supply; enriched Christians are enabled to be generous; and this generosity results in thanksgiving to God.      

Please study the passage and consider the question below.

Question:

What biblical principles encourage you the most to be a good steward?          

Please leave a comment.  We would love to hear from you.


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40 Days of Discipline:  Day 25 – Service

25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  (Matthew 20:25-28, New International Version)

Theme:  Rejoicing and Thanksgiving

Context:

Our commentators yesterday presented some of the significant challenges encountered when we serve those who appear not be deserving.  Thank you for your contributions!  Your transparency is engaging and your commitment to seek to follow Jesus’ instructions despite challenges is inspiring.

As we wrap up our consideration of the discipline of Service we consider the importance of this discipline in God’s economy.  Service is highly esteemed by Jesus.  This high esteem makes the practice worthy of rejoicing and thanksgiving.    

Bible Passages:   

Our Bible passage today, encapsulates the connection between greatness and service.  Jesus’ life mission was to serve, and he calls us to greatness by calling us to that same mission.   Note that Jesus does not define greatness the way the world does.

Please study the passage and consider the question below.

Question:

Considering the biblical significance of service, how can we better celebrate the discipline in our daily lives individually and as a Christian community? 

Please leave a comment.  We would love to hear from you.


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40 Days of Discipline:  Day 24 – Service

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:32-36, New International Version)

Theme:  Rejoicing and Thanksgiving

Context:

Yesterday we discussed why it is appropriate for Christians to rejoice and give thanks for the opportunity to serve.  We had great comments on the topic. Thanks to all who contributed. One of our commentators pointed out that serving people can be very difficult at times, and we will consider that reality today. 

To paraphrase a theologian named Ken Bailey, “Many Christians are excited about serving people until they have to interact with those they serve.” Serving people who have different value systems, or who have qualities we don’t like is unlikely to spark rejoicing and thanksgiving.  However, Christians are called to a very high standard.  

Bible Passages:   

In our Bible passage today, Jesus articulates a standard for service that is quite high. 

Please study the passage and consider the question below.

Question:

In the Scripture passage above, what does Jesus say that should encourage believers to serve with rejoicing and thanksgiving even when those being served are “enemies”?    

Please leave a comment.  We would love to hear from you.


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40 Days of Discipline:  Day 23 – Service

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. (1 Timothy 1:12, New International Version)

Theme:  Rejoicing and Thanksgiving

Context:

It is a privilege to be on this spiritual journey with each of you. We have just completed over half of the 40 days and it is already clear that there are never-ending opportunities to rejoice and give thanks as we practice spiritual disciplines. This week we will focus on the disciplines of Service and Stewardship.  We will start with Service. 

A variety of sentiments are associated with acts of service. Rejoicing and thanksgiving aren’t often high on the list. In fact, service that doesn’t result in a direct benefit to the servant (e.g., service without remuneration) is often seen as a thankless sacrifice.  When viewed from a Christian perspective though, service is a privilege we should give God thanks for.      

Bible Passages:   

In our Bible passage today, Paul provides a clear link between service and giving thanks. 

Please study the passage and consider the question below.

Question:

Ordinarily, people expect to be thanked for serving.  In your own words, why is Paul instead giving thanks to serve?    

Please leave a comment.  We would love to hear from you.


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40 Days of Discipline:  Day 22 – Review

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, New International Version) 

Theme:  Rejoicing and Thanksgiving

Thanks for making the past week another special time of growing together.  Today is dedicated to reviewing what we have learned over the past five days about how the disciplines of Worship and Fellowship can enable a life of Rejoicing and Thanksgiving. 

If you have not had a chance to review the comments for each day, I encourage you to do so.

Question:

What key takeaways are you most likely to apply from this week’s discussions?      

Please leave a comment.  We would love to hear from you.