Text- 1 Timothy 4:7 – “… Rather, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness”
Yesterday, we established some general principles on spiritual disciplines. As we proceed with this topic today, I want you to understand that spiritual disciplines are not activities some form of mysterious practices; they are the simple things that we find on the pages of scripture.
The best way to avoid error when it comes to spiritual disciplines is to stick with clear scriptural mandates. As such, the most important spiritual disciplines are those activities and practices that involve the Word of God. There are four of them.
1. Reading “…and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully” – Leviticus 17:19
2. Studying “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” – 2Timothy 2:15
3. Memorization “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” – Colossians 3:16
4. Meditation “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night” – Joshua 1:8
The Bible is our manual for Godly living; it is the syllabus for pleasing God; it is the constitution of the Kingdom of God. If we neglect scriptures, any other spiritual discipline we claim to be doing will be pointless!
The scripture trains us for a life that has God's approval, cultivates spiritual development in us, and promotes our spiritual growth. We simply can’t afford to go through life without knowing and constantly refreshing our minds on what is written in the Bible by reading, studying, meditating, and memorizing it.
“As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” – 1 Peter 2:2
In effect, we must read and study the Bible every day of our lives, and these must be done with enough attention and dedication to meditate and memorize it, so as to discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” – 2 Timothy 3:16–17
Shalom!
PRAYER
Father, help me to cultivate the right discipline in reading, studying, memorizing and meditating scriptures in Jesus Name.
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