Growing Strong as God Followers
June 7, 2010This morning my devotional reading included Psalm 119:11 which says “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Likewise, Psalm 1 explains that the one who lives a “blessed” life delights in God’s law and meditates upon it day and night. This catalyst for spiritual growth is woven throughout the fabric of Scripture.
As I considered similar passages, I started asking myself what other disciplines, practices and lifestyles might enable us to grow ever stronger as God followers.
Five Fundamental Lifestyles:
1. Contemplation & Adoration of the Creator
2. Consideration & Emulation of Jesus Christ
3. Service & Sharing with those in Need
4. Proclamation & Propagation of Christian Thought & Spirituality
5. Responsibility & Accountability within a Christian Community
___________
6. Dying to & Denying Oneself (via Jacob Walsh, www.eology.wordpress.com)
What do you think? What would you add to the list?
For me, the concept of “dying to oneself” is most important. Humility (often in the form of humiliation before God) has been a consistent catalyst for me. Unfortunately, God usually has to humble me by force. It would be a great practice for us to be proactive and humble ourselves…thinking along the lines of Matthew 16:24-25:
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”
#6 on your list could be: Humility and Dying to Oneself (or denying oneself)
I’d like to see how we fit in the concept of discipline throughout these lifestyles. Often I make a good start on many of these lifestyles, but fail to build the habit of discipline into the pratices.
I stumbled upon your blog while looking at the related links for one of my entries. I guess you could say I am a hostile commentator, but I am genuinely curious to know what you mean by “Dying to & Denying Oneself.” It sounds very Buddhist to me, actually. I’ve never heard any Christian propose this as being part of being a Christian. How do you understand it? If you could point me on a blog entry where you describe it, that would be great.
I agree with your points and I think #5 Responsibility & Accountability within a Christian Community is missing in many many churches. Pastors and church leaders are NOT accountable to nobody.
I think for me Dying and denyin Oneseld is living a life when I become less and less so God can grow bigger and bigger. Denying your personal wants and will for God’s Will. Not easy but with God is possible. I just don;t think that we will totally master this point.
I would add Communication with our Creator. In order to have a close relationship I have to be in close communication with Him. You know the typical ways… prayer, my journal, reading the Word & worship. My favorite way is just talking to Him throughout my day. Some days it’s out loud, some days it’s in my head, but I try to have consistent communication. ; )
Francois: Thank you for your comment. You don’t sound “hostile” at all. You ask a good question. Dying to and Denying oneself is one of Jesus’ primary teaching themes throughout the Gospels. Unfortunately, His followers have rarely done a good job following His teachings. As Ghandi is famous for saying, “I like your Christ but I do not like your Christians. Because your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” In Mark 8:34-35, Jesus said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”