July Week 1 — Mission Cleveland Parish

Virtue: Devotion
Resolution: I choose to practice spiritual disciplines to nurture my relationship with Christ.

Human Story: Richard Foster (1942 - )

Modern discussions about spiritual disciplines usually mention Richard Foster. His book Celebration of Discipline, with over 1 million copies sold, is known by many as the go-to book on Christian spirituality. Foster’s early career story is a familiar one: he graduated seminary and began pastoring a small church. His goal was not numerical church growth, however, but the spiritual growth of the congregants. After a few months of teaching his churchgoers, he realized they needed more than just biblical teaching in order to grow spiritually. Foster looked to antiquity to be his guide and discovered the disciplines practiced by Jesus and believers throughout history. Confession, prayer, solitude, bible reading, fasting, simplicity, celebration……all of these are ways to be a “living sacrifice.” We must learn to present ourselves before God as holy, and the disciplines are how we do that.

In addition to being a pastor and author, Foster also founded Renovaré, an ecumenical nonprofit that advocates fullness of life with God experienced through spiritual disciplines. This ministry includes retreats, educational material for small groups, an institute, as well as books, articles, and podcasts. Foster is driven to facilitate spiritual growth in others such that they become more like Jesus. Listening to sermons or having an individual quiet time are certainly not bad things but must be supplemented by other Christian practices. In the words of Foster:

We must not be led to believe that the Disciplines are only for spiritual giants and hence beyond our reach, or only for contemplatives who devote all their time to prayer and meditation. Far from it. God intends the Disciplines of the spiritual life to be for ordinary human beings: people who have jobs, who care for children, who wash dishes and mow lawns. In fact, the Disciplines are best exercised in the midst of our relationships with our husband or wife, our brothers and sisters, our friends and neighbors.

- Celebration of Discipline, 1

Lesson: 1 Timothy 4:7-10 (NIV)

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

Several times in the New Testament, spiritual life is likened to athletics. Some people are naturally athletic, but even those who are need to discipline their bodies in order to excel in sports.

Similarly, some people are naturally good at certain Christian practices. Some may be drawn toward Bible reading, some towards praying for others, some toward encouraging others or hospitality. However, this does not mean that those who may find these practices more difficult are off the hook. Just like a person who may be a poor free-throw shooter, practice and discipline can improve an area that does not meet certain standards.

In our text, Paul is telling Timothy to avoid the gossip that was characterizing the house church in Ephesus, and the antithesis of avoiding this silly talk was to train himself in godliness. Practicing spiritual disciplines is the way to train oneself. In addition to the classical spiritual disciplines (see July Introduction), the following are other examples that are considered by some as spiritual disciplines: Sabbath-keeping, journaling, stewardship, chastity, evangelism, gratitude, and almsgiving.

Spiritual disciplines are not some tool of legalism to make us feel guilty or proud. They are tools to be utilized to make us more like Jesus. Without practicing them, we are like a lazy athlete who does not practice his trace. Some of us may have more talent than others, but without discipline and practice, we will eventually get left behind.

Remembrance

The standard of practical holy living has been so low among Christians that very often the person who tries to practice spiritual disciplines in everyday life is looked upon with disapproval by a large portion of the Church. And for the most part, the followers of Jesus Christ are satisfied with a life so conformed to the world, and so like it in almost every respect, that to the casual observer, there is no difference between the Christian and the pagan.

- Hannah Whitall Smith in The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life

Challenge

The scripture this week urges us to “train for godliness”. In order to practice the spiritual disciplines in conjunction with each other, it is necessary to know what they entail. You might understand what some of the disciplines are through knowledge or experience but consider spending time this week learning about the ones that are unfamiliar to you. Once you know what the disciplines are, pick one or two you have not experienced and plan a time to give them a try. Consider how you can alter your daily, weekly, and monthly habits to incorporate the disciplines into your life.

Reflection

People do not drift toward holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated. - D. A. Carson

Further Growth

Virtue: DevotionResolution: I choose to practice spiritual disciplines to nurture my relationship with Christ.