Tag Archives: discipline

May 20
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“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'” (John 6:35, NIV)

Whether in the physical sphere — or in the spiritual sphere — hunger and thirst are normal. We feel the pangs of hunger and the dryness of thirst in reaction to need.

The challenge for all of humanity is to properly satisfy this need — whether physical or spiritual.

Only Jesus permanently and properly satisfies the hunger of the human spirit.  Only Jesus permanently and properly satisfies the thirst of the human soul. The other things, activities, and people we rely on to meet our spiritual needs are only temporary and a diversion when time is critically short.

As disciples of Jesus, we must guard against the temptation to consider anything other than God’s provision to satisfy any spiritual need. God has given us His only begotten Son — Jesus.  He is the bread of life.  He is the living water.  – Luther

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March 14
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“People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray.” (Proverbs 10:17, NLT)

Those of us who have lived more than half of our allotted years are at heightened risk of “going astray” in two basic ways: (1) Because we’ve “seen it all,” we are less open to a corrective word from someone else, especially if they are younger or less experienced than us; and (2) people who can help may be put-off when we don’t appear approachable or teachable.

Truth is truth, whether from the lips of an angel or from the mouth of a jackass (that is, the jackass of Numbers 22); and help is help, whether from a brother or from a stranger.

Today, work at being open to God’s discipline and His words of correction.  The Lord uses many personalities, agents, and circumstances to guide His people in the way that leads to life!  – Luther

Note: Remember, Daily Encouragement is on break tomorrow. Have a great day in worship. Hoping to see you again on Monday! 

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November 29
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“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”  (1 Corinthians 9: 24-27, NIV)

Excellence, discipline, and humility.

We extol these three qualities in any athlete.  Likewise, these three qualities together are essential for faithful discipleship.

Are we living our lives — every hour of every day — “in such a way as to get the prize,” which is life in all of its fullness and length?  Are we engaged in the private, hidden, work of “training”– in the words of Paul to his protege Timothy — “to study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”?

Paul’s words remind us to aspire to excellence in all that we do. He reminds us to adopt the discipline of “strict training” so that we will be prepared for any of the so-called surprises of life, and that we will be fit to finish the course.  He reminds us to be humble, lest we ourselves are disqualified as the price of our pride.

Excellence + Discipline + Humility = Faithful discipleship.  – Luther

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