home:blog - spirit of the disciplines
August 5, 2006
I've been reading a great book lately by Dallas Willard called "The Spirit of the Disciplines." It's having a profound influence on my life. A friend of mine gave it to me to read almost eight years ago, but, after giving it a shot, I found it dry and it was just too painful to try and force my way through it. In fact, I have meant several times over the last few years to give it back to him while home for Christmas. Then, amazingly, I heard the author interviewed on the radio just the other day regarding his latest book, The Great Omission, and they mentioned the book my friend let me borrow. I wasn't sure if it was the same book and author, but I thought it might be. The more I listened, the more I finally started to get what he was saying. It lit me on fire and I could hardly get home fast enough to see if it was, indeed, that same author and book. It was! So, I started to read it again and, this time, it was like I was reading with new eyes. Very exciting. I want to talk more about this, but will wait until I've read a little more.
Basically, what I'm coming away with so far, personally, is that I have embraced Jesus Christ to save me from the penalty of my sin (eternal death) and take me with Him to heaven when I die; I have an honest desire to please God and to live a life that is good and right, to do the right thing by God and man; to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and my neighbor as myself. That's all well and good. However, it's one thing to make mental assent and say it's a good thing, it's quite another to not only believe it, but order my life in such a way that I imitate Christ in every way I can, doing what He did, praying like He prayed, serving like He served, seeking God the Father like He sought Him, relating to people, befriending and discipling them. Jesus said that His "yoke is easy" and His "burden is light" (Matthew 11:30). It sure doesn't look that way, based on all the trying and failing I've seen in my own life. I know from personal experience that humanly speaking, this is actually impossible. Well, then, why did Jesus say those words about His yoke being easy and burden being light? Did He not really mean it, or was it just a nice turn of phrase to help attract followers. I believe that this is only possible through the transforming power of Christ in my life. But my experience, as confirmed and renewed by this book, is that He doesn't just bestow me with it, but, rather, transforms me as I seek Him first. And that the more I seek Him, the more I am transformed and the more I realize that His way has become easy and His burden light, and that, in fact, the hard thing is the sinful way. In other words, it becomes harder to turn someone away than it is to care for them, harder to say harsh words against someone than to speak words of healing and mercy, harder to be selfish than lay down my life for someone else. So, in that way, the yoke is easy and the burden light. I no longer am fighting against myself like I once was. Again, this happens not as a result of trying harder to do the right thing in the circumstance, but by staying close to the Lord and experiencing His transforming love in my life. I can see that I have often wanted and sought after the kind of life Jesus led, but, rather than looking to Him by living my everyday life like He did in prayer, studying the scriptures, serving, listening and doing what He's telling me, etc. I just have often lived like the rest of the world. No wonder the power of the gospel isn't present when I'm living that way. My goodness, if Jesus, who was God in the flesh, fully God and fully man, had to spend lots of time in communion with His Father, who do I think I am that I can just say "I want my character and life to look just like Christ, saying the right thing at the right time, turning the other cheek, giving to those in need, seeing miracles before my eyes, etc" but then just live like the rest of the world the rest of the time, thinking that I can "make it happen" by deciding to "do the right thing" in the moment. Not so.
As the author points out - though it's better than nothing to think "What would Jesus do?", that kind of thinking has a shortfall, it leads me into thinking that I can live my life just like anybody else, but then, in the moment, I can suddenly become Superchristian and do what Jesus would do. Yes, as I said before, there is some good that can come of asking myself that question, but the real moment of transformation is not in the moment, but in spending time with the Lord often so that He can transform me, and to develop a strong sense of who God is and what He's about, His Spirit being strong in me. If I really want to do what Jesus did, then I need to start where He did, with fasting, prayer, scripture, serving others, spending time with other Christians that can mentor me and with those I can mentor, seeking out and spending time with friends who will point me to Jesus, etc.
Also, though forgiveness for sins is a basic part of the gospel and grace, it's not the whole thing. Jesus came not only that I would be saved from death, but that I might have life, and have it abundantly! The reason the early church turned the world upside down and was willing to lay their lives on the line was not just because Jesus died and forgave their sin, it was because He rose from the dead, proving that the life He was talking about (Himself that Life) could not be killed and, in fact, conquered sin and death!
So, for now, that's where I'm at in this book. I want to be a man who models my life after Christ in every aspect possible, which only happens through Christ transforming me as I look to Him not only for forgiveness of my sin, but as the source of my very life, physically and spiritually. I want to LIVE life, not just be forgiven for the mess I've made of it! And, I believe, that's what the Lord promises me (and all of us who will turn from our own way to Him). John 10:10 - "I have come that you might have life, and have it abundantly." Also, Matthew 16:24,25 "If any man desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but he who loses his life for My sake shall find it."
- To inquire about booking Tim Anderson for a concert or to sing at your church service or event, please send an email through the INFO page describing your request. You can also call 615-261-1364 for more information. -