Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6 (NIV)
Most of my life I have either been on a diet, coming off a diet or in need of starting one! Unfortunately my eating philosophy comes too close to a Mae West quote I once read: Too much of a good thing is Wonderful!! I laughingly share this quote when eating that second or third piece of cake or other desired delicacy. In reality however, it is a rotten formula for healthy living and is part of the reason I am carrying around the extra poundage, yet once again.
I have been told, and experienced this a few times along my food struggling journey, that the change must come with “appetite” for long lasting success. My mind knows this to be true, but the rest of me will not cooperate! (The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak –Matthew 26:41).
Probably 15-20 years ago, there was a lot of talk about making a “Paradigm” shift, especially as it related to how we do church. In other words, not just changing what we do, but getting to the core of the issue by experiencing a heart change–a heart change that results in transformed living. If we get the order out of sequence it doesn’t work. Often we try to change a behavior without first examining the heart, ending up with frustration and discouragement.
Pastor Josh has challenged each of the ministers to read a book about discipleship entitled: Growing Up: How to be a Disciple who Makes Disciples by Robby Gallaty. Each week we read a chapter and discuss it at staff meeting. One of the upcoming chapters hits at the heart of this issue. Success in this matter is dependent upon three key words as defined in chapter 7: Knowing, Loving, and Obeying. The progression flows from “knowing God” to “loving Him” and the more we love Him the more we desire to “obey Him.” These are interlocked.
Gallaty says: “You will never serve Him (God) faithfully until you love Him fervently.” The type of love we are talking about here is not a feel good, mushy, mystical, raised hands type love. (I am not denouncing raised hands by the way, but raised hands without a submissive heart is severely lacking.) It is a love that produces fruit; a fruit that can only come through disciplined living. Disciplined living gets a bad rap these days, but it truly is the only way to find contentment in any walk of life.
Gallaty quotes Donald Whitney in Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. “So many professing Christians are so spiritually undisciplined that they seem to have little fruit and power in their lives. I’ve seen men and women who discipline themselves for the purpose of excelling in their profession, but discipline themselves minimally for the purpose of godliness.” (Read this quote a couple times and let it sink in!)
2 John 1:6 reminds us. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love.
Knowing (God), Loving (God) and Obeying (God)–the key to successful living. When we get immersed in this process/philosophy, sanctification results and our appetites naturally change resulting in healthy living!
Let us walk in love together as we seek to follow our Heavenly Father’s leading!
Keith