January 15, 2017 ·

Disciples with Discipline

“I love the idea of self-control being a gift or a fruit of the Spirit, because self-control sounds like something I do, but then yet God's given it to me in his grace. What's the relationship between these? How do they work out? I would say, I think, in the end, discipline is a personal characteristic. It's part of who you are and who you become. It becomes a habit of your being. It's how you live out your life. … What we're hearing is just like James says about your salvation, discipline is a matter of both faith and works. As you put faith in God and trust in Him, you receive the Spirit of discipline and self-control and He enables you to live that out. But at the same time, you have practices or ways of living your life that put you in a place to receive the grace of God. That's why Jesus would go early in the morning and sneak off because He's putting Himself in a place where God could work.”