Matthew 6:20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
You cannot steal anyone’s discipline who has become accustomed to the stabilizing rules of conduct, faithful results, and motivational strength that it gives those who are committed to being disciplined. What an amazing treasure discipline is for those who have found and applied it to their lives. The reason I call it a treasure is that discipline is priceless if you use it to guide your life toward the calling God has placed upon your heart and the goals you have set. Without discipline, most ventures run off the rails and everything comes to a crashing halt including all the self-made promises of losing weight, studying more, working harder, breaking the addiction and the many other empty promises that flow from non-committed and undisciplined people.
Why do those who are committed to being disciplined in a craft, specialty, or training grow and develop better results in many areas of their lives? The Scriptures say that those who listen and apply the Lord’s teachings will receive more understanding and the ability to walk in what is understood. Mark 4:25 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. Those who do not listen to the lessons of discipline will lose the strength of will they have left. They will also be easy targets to be robbed of whatever resolve they had left to fight the temptations of life, leaving them vulnerable to the attack of the enemy.
I have said, ” Discipline is a cruel master, but a necessary companion to make a stand in life.” Yes, there are times when discipline makes a demand on the will of our soul that seems so difficult at the time to follow through on the challenge, but when we obey and come through, there is victory. I try to hang out with those who have adopted the skills of being disciplined so that I am encouraged to stay the course. Ask anyone who slipped away and gradually found themselves in a mess of their own making, that it did not take much laziness to become indifferent and apathetic toward everyday challenges. Prov. 24:33 Go ahead and take your nap; go ahead and sleep. Fold your hands and rest awhile, 34 but while you are asleep, poverty will attack you like an armed robber.
The Apostle Paul could never have gone through what he suffered had he not been a man who was disciplined in his calling and anointing to minister the word of God. How was he able to endure so much persecution and hardships, yet stay faithful to the Lord? 2Cor. 11:24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I have passed a night and a day in the deep sea; 26 In my frequent journeys, I have been in danger from rivers and from bandits, in danger from my countrymen and from the Gentiles, in danger in the city and in the country, in danger on the sea and among false brothers, 27 in labour and toil and often without sleep, in hunger and thirst and often without food, in cold and exposure.
I know I am being sarcastic, but sheesh, a bit of discipline on our part would bring some resolve to our hearts. Today, we have people threatening to leave the faith because they have to park their cars so far from the front doors of the church, or the pastor didn’t acknowledge and thank them because they brought toothpicks to the annual church picnic. We need to grow up in the maturity God is leading us in. Paul kept his emotions and body under control so that he would not become complacent or entitled in the ministry God had called him to. 1Cor. 9:27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. No one could have stolen Paul’s discipline, not even Satan.
Only Joshua and Caleb maintained their discipline of faith by believing the promises of God that the land of Cannan was given to the nation of Israel. In the mounting unbelief that the ten spies had created through a negative report, Caleb spoke boldly. Num. 14:9 Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them. The sad thing was that the nation of Israel was on the doorstep of receiving God’s promise but was not able to attain it because of a majority vote of a faithless people who believed the fears of the ten spies. Joshua and Caleb needed to maintain their discipline of faith toward God for another forty years till the promise was fulfilled. These men of faith were able to enter the land of Cannan because their discipline could not be stolen from them.
As I grow in the faith that Jesus Christ my Lord has established in my heart through His sacrifice on the cross, I will do my best to remain a faithful son of the most high God. By grace, I will be disciplined in all areas of my life so that I may say as the Apostle Paul did at the end of his tour of duty on this earth. 2Tim. 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. I too want to be able to say to the enemy of my soul, “Through the mercy and grace of my Lord and Saviour Jesus, you cannot steal the discipline that I have in Christ! I have been paid for in full by the blood of Jesus. It is said it is done.” Amen and amen!
My biggest complaint is that your church is 35 plus hours away from us, and that’s if we don’t stop for gas along the way. That’s just too far. Lol
You are the most disciplined person I know! Glad to have you in my circle.
Who told you that I was upset about the toothpicks? That’s not true, I only mentioned that no one thanked me for my sizable contribution.
Thank you Larry for all you do:)