Before we begin to view ten diamond virtues involved in a life of discipline, I want to reiterate a point from our last issue. A disciplined life is not a life in which rituals, regiments, and routines are an end to themselves. It is not a life of self-effort, guilt, pressure, and micro-managing to keep up with a desired reputation. We must be very careful of desiring to be busy just so that we can say we are busy and feel self-approval. We dare not fall into a life of independence and pride! Even in the midst of multiple disciplines we must maintain the humble and simple heart of a child, knowing that all we do is focused on our walk with Christ.

The Christian life is meant to be a constant sweet dependence on Christ; it’s resting not running, trusting not trying, submitting not striving, peace not push, and waiting not worrying. However, let me say this: that doesn’t mean that a life of rest is in opposition to a life of discipline. We must be so careful that we keep a balance with the seeming paradox truths of the Bible. Paul said in Colossians 1:29 that he was striving (The Greek word used here is where we get our word “agonize.”) in his service for the Lord. But he very quickly said that he was doing so by the power of Christ in his life. Often times, as we are submitted to the Lord’s strength, there is a striving, an agonizing, in the Christian life. Though there is always to be a calm, composed, restful spirit of dependence on the inside, equally true, every fiber of our being is to be exerted on the outside in endless labors for God.

Don’t ever be afraid of hurt, strain, push, fight, lunge, and exhaustion in the Christian life. Don’t ever view pleading, weeping, seeking, longing, and reaching as unspiritual. They are often an outworking of God’s in-working. Be careful of stifling a Spirit-sent urgency, a Spirit-produced agony, and a Spirit-kindled fervency.

There must be a sensitive harmony between the practical human movements of discipline and dependence upon God. One could very easily sit on their sofa with an ice-cold lemonade “meditating upon the finer points of Leviticus” while God’s soldiers are out battling to rescue lost souls from hell. One could very easily pray cold, indifferent prayers that go no further than the ceiling, and claim that they dare not become emotional in prayer because they are “resting in the Lord.” If that is your view of resting in the Christian life, I’m not sure Paul, Peter, and the Lord Jesus Christ lived very good Christian lives! Yes they were resting, but that rest in the Lord is what produced the drive, the ingenuity, the reaching, the hoping, the longing, the weeping, and the discipline.

D. L. Moody was a man who knew very well this great balance. Though he was entirely resting upon the promise of God’s continued work through him, he labored endlessly in the earthly realm to see that God’s work was done. Truly, he was a man of discipline! Perhaps Dr. Scofield summarized the balance best when he made these comments at Mr. Moody’s funeral: “[Moody] believed in works, in ceaseless effort, in wise provision, in the power of organization, of publicity. He expected the supernatural to work, but through the natural. He hitched his wagon to a star (dependence), but he always kept the wheels on the ground and the axles well oiled (discipline).” With that fine balance in mind, let’s look at what God expects from His soldiers in a life of discipline for His glory.

In the upcoming issues on D.I.S.C.I.P.L.I.N.E. I don’t intend to spend much time defining discipline as much as showing ten virtues that are part of what makes up a life of discipline. Read I Corinthians 9 carefully (especially toward the end) and take particular note to the theme of discipline. You’ll find from Paul’s passionate message that the ten diamond virtues of discipline were present in his life. Let’s take a look at the first.

D.ETERMINATION

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air.”

(I Corinthians 9:24-26)

Paul compares the Christian life to a race. As we view Paul at the end of his race in II Timothy, we can almost see the sweat dripping off his nose and chin; he’s bent over with his hands on his knees; his face is winced in pain as he pants to gain his breath; he says between breaths, “I have fought… a good fight… I have finished… my course… I have kept… the faith…” Paul understood that the Christian life is not a game; it is to be treated as a real race with real rewards. Paul is encouraging us in I Corinthians 9 to run to win! It will take temperance, it will take discipline, and it will take determination.

You cannot read this passage without hearing the determination in Paul’s voice. A disciplined man must be a man of focused determination! He is determined to live up to the potential God has for him and will let nothing prevent him from accomplishing his God-given goals. He will see his vision fulfilled! His burning determination drives him to temperance in eating, exercise, ease, and education. He is determined that everything in his life must be useful in promoting the goal. Any baggage that doesn’t help must be cast aside. Any weight that is unnecessary, must be destroyed. He is determined to win the race God has for him no matter what the cost. Do you see how determination is a virtue of discipline? Fact is, if you are not determined to be everything you can be for God during this life, you will not have any internal purpose or desire for discipline.

Are you a Christian of determination? There is certainly nothing wrong with being set aflame with a holy determination to be everything you can be for God. On the contrary, determination is a diamond virtue of discipline. Do not allow the current atmosphere of pseudo-spiritual apathy and complacency to dampen your fervent determination to do God’s will with Christian excellence. Because we live in a generation that is saturated with casual Christians, it is easy to feel like the “weirdo” for having an excitement about the things of God and being determined to do all with a zealous passion. Be determined! “But brother Phil, other people seem to get by just fine without that zealous determination.” Maybe so, yet it is still true of you if you’ve chosen to be one of God’s soldiers, “Others may, you cannot!” Let me leave you with some areas to be determined in.

1. Be determined not to be lazy. A disciplined soldier has no business being lazy. Others may think it’s fine to sleep in all hours, but you are determined that your time must not be wasted. Others can spend hours in front of the video game screen or TV, but you are determined not to waste your life. Be determined to get up early and make the most of every minute of your day.
    
2. Be determined to win souls to Christ. It may be true that other Christians aren’t burdened enough to get out and make a difference, but you must not fall into that trap of apathy. Be determined in your life to find ways to make a difference in reaching the lost people around you. Don’t be an individual who gives up so easily on the power of the Gospel.
    
3. Be determined to learn God’s Word. I encourage you to set a goal this year for memorizing 100 verses of Scripture. Or set a goal to memorize the book of Colossians or James. Be determined not to let years go by without putting the time necessary into learning God’s Word. Make a goal to read through the Bible this year. Be determined to allow God’s Word to shape you.
    
4. Be determined to stay pure. When you are tempted with impure images, dirty thoughts, or lustful glances, remember the determination of a teenager named Joseph who set his heart to do what was right. If you want to be different in this generation, you don’t have to do anything all that unusual; just be pure and you will stand out in the crowd. Be determined that nothing will steal your purity.
    
5. Be determined to spend time in prayer each day. Set a time in your daily schedule to meet with God and pray. Don’t let days go by without spending precious time in communion with God. With a spirit of determination, set your goals to be instant in prayer and lift up others daily before the Lord.

I genuinely believe that God is looking for godly leaders in the generation coming up right now. Are you going to be one of those leaders? If so, begin to develop the diamond virtue of determination in your life and be a disciplined soldier of the cross. We’ll see you next time for diamond virtue #2.