Thoughts for Life: Self-Discipline: The Missing Element in Christianity

James H. Cagle: The Bible says, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Cor. 9:27).

The body is the external part of a man that is subject to the internal man. The body serves the will of the inner man. The body is never judged for what it does. The inner man, because he is at the helm and in control is judged for what he did with his outer man, the vessel, the body (2 Cor.5:10). (Google image, Man: man slip art #11).

As human beings we do not have a body, soul, and spirit. We are body, soul, and spirit. Paul in our text distinguishes the difference between his inner man (I) and his outer man (my body).

Because the inner man is superior and possesses the will and intellect it can subdue the outer man to perform its will. Paul recognizes the need for self-discipline in order to be an effective preacher of the Gospel.

As a person I can control my body. As a Christian I am responsible for controlling my body in a way that glorifies God. Self-discipline is used to accomplish this.

A person is saved the moment they repent of their sins and put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. After getting saved the struggle against the world, the flesh, and the devil begins and continues until the grave or the Rapture.

Self-discipline is “the subordination or renunciation of one’s appetites, possessions, pleasures or purposes for the sake of realizing some higher end or larger good.”

Self-discipline is a term used to describe the struggle to bring the old man with its evil nature and tendencies into subjection to the new man with its holy nature and tendencies.

Through self-discipline we cease being the servants of sin and become the servants of righteousness (Rom.6). We don’t use self-discipline or works to get saved but rather use it as a means after we’re saved, for working out our sanctification (Phil.2:12).

Self-discipline is the method by which we mortify (put to death) the old man with his deeds and “put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Col.3).

For the Christian, the soul is the medium through which the spirit expresses itself in the body. The soul that, before salvation was given over to sin and in control because the spirit was dead, must be trained, and disciplined to where it’s subordinate to and in harmony with the spirit in expressing itself through the body (Rom.8).

And we do not come to this harmony all at once, but only by steady self-discipline.

This process begins with a self-examination, where we daily compare ourselves to God’s Word (KJV) and the life of Christ to see how unlike Christ we are and then begin self-discipline to remove the differences, and realize the higher end of being Christ like.

The lack of self-disciple among Christians today as it pertains to the faith, bespeaks the absence of Christ-honoring goals. The goal of the Christian to be holy and sanctified and fit for the Master’s use is obviously missing, because the self-discipline necessary for reaching that goal, is missing.

Self-Discipline: The Missing Element in Christianity
By James H. Cagle

Today's guest link: [Here's a challenge for self-discipline]

When An Introvert And An Extrovert Marry

by Jill Savage

"Mark: I’m an extrovert. I’m refueled by being with people.

Jill: I’m an introvert. I’m refueled by being alone.

Mark: This has caused more than a few challenges in our nearly 35 years of marriage.

Jill: Initially, we were drawn to our differences. I loved how Mark was the life of the party. He loved that I wanted to be with him and him only.

Mark: Over time, though, those differences cause challenges. I’m all for weekends filled with social activities while Jill longs for quiet weekends at home."

Praying for wife

Father, we see that we are responsible for what we do with our bodies we've been given. As responsible Christians, we ask that You help us control our bodies in ways that glorify You.

Through self- discipline we learn to obey Your Word in becoming servants of righteousness instead of servants of our own sinful nature.

Our sanctification is in Christ Jesus, and our belief in what He did for us on Calvary, so we aren't working for our salvation, but as a result of it, becoming like Him through self-discipline.

We understand that as Christians, the soul is the medium through which the spirit expresses itself in our bodies. May we give control to Your Spirit to train us to walk in harmony with You in expressing ourselves through our bodies for Your honor and glory.

We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Today's Bible verse-

Heb.13:15 (KJV) "By him therefore let us offer the

sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the

fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."

Col. 3:12,13 (KJV) "Put on therefore, as the elect of

God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness,

humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

(13) Forbearing one another, if any man have a quarrel

against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

Phil. 2:14-16 (KJV) "Do all things without murmurings
and disputings: (15) That ye may be blameless and
harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst
of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine
as lights in the world: (16) Holding forth the word of life;
that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run
in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Today's quotes-

~ Max Lucado- "A friend described to me her daily ninety-minute commute. “Ninety minutes,” I commiserated. “Don’t feel sorry for me,” she smiled, “I use the trip to think about God.” She went on to describe how she fills the hour listening to entire books of the Bible. She recites prayers. By the time she reaches her place of employment, she’s ready for the day. She says, “I turn my commute into my chapel.”
Read more Anxious for Nothing
Listen to UpWords with Max Lucado at OnePlace.com

~ A. W. Tozer- "I hope it is clear that there is a logic behind God's claim to preeminence. That place is His by every right in earth or heaven. While we take to ourselves the place that is His, the whole course of our lives is out of joint. Nothing will or can restore order till our hearts make the great decision: God shall be exalted above."

[Taken from Herald of His Coming newspaper, Vol 77, No 4 (916), p. 1. Used by permission.]

List of recent sermons of CFC ministers. CFC Potsdam church has a live service at 10 am Sunday's for shut-ins. If for some reason you can't make it to the church you usually attend, click on the above link, and still get fed!

Upcoming posts-

#47 Questions You Face Before God

24th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

#48 Your Accountability as a Leader- Part 1

26th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

Restored Failures

28th- Saturday's post by Leslie Koh

#49 You Will be Accountable to Warn of Danger

5/1- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel