Beyond Lip Service
Theme of the Week: A Spiritual Workout
James Emery White
Friday, April 16, 2004
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Key Bible Verse: "And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to"(James 1:22). Bonus Reading:James 1:19–27
If the Christian life enables us to become what we were created to be, why do Christians often struggle to become more like Christ? Author and former pastor Eugene Peterson faced this tension when attending a religious conference as an adolescent. People from his church gathered every summer by a lake where they exhibited fiery spiritual intensity. Yet Peterson noticed little continuity between the exuberance they expressed at the conference grounds and their everyday lives back in town.
Christians aren't alone on this frustrating journey. Fitness guru Bill Phillips recalled attending a fitness convention and coming face–to–face with a number of his books' readers. They were happy to see him, but he wasn't so happy to see them since only about 80 of 600 looked physically fit.
These out–of–shape followers lost their way on the transformational journey. It's easy to do if you forget these dynamics: desire, knowledge, and power. Desire is the longing for change, knowledge is the awareness of the path you need to take to experience change, and power is the ability to capitalize on your desire and knowledge.
—James Emery White in Long Night's Journey into Day
My Response: Which do I need right now: desire, knowledge, or power?
Thought to Apply: You can judge the quality of their faith from the way they behave. Discipline is an index to doctrine.
—Tertullian (early church leader)
Adapted from Long Night's Journey into Day (WaterBrook, 2002) by permission.
Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click
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Lord, give me power to live a disciplined spiritual life that will keep our relationship strong.
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