Spiritual Disciplines IV

Scripture: Luke 4:16 - 30

Discipline is the mark of the successful Christian. Being spiritually disciplined is the pathway to  spiritual growth and God's blessing. We have established some of those spiritual disciplines by which our lives ought to be governed. They are: BE FAITHFUL IN DAILY BIBLE REA DING, BE FAITHFUL IN DAILY PRAYER, and BE CONSTANTLY A WARE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

Today we are going to add one last discipline that God has established for His children to observe. BE REGULAR IN ATTENDANCE AT GOD’S HOUSE FOR WORSHIP. In the Bible reading for today, we find that the Lord Jesus was in the synagogue “as his custom was”. Yes, it was a regular habit for Him to be found in the House of the Lord for worship. The Psalmist was glad to go into the House of the Lord (Psalm 122:1) and he spoke of receiving understanding by going into the sanctuary of God (Psalm 73:17). Isaiah received his call in the House of God (Isaiah 6: 1-8) and God warned his people “not to forsake the assembling of themselves together” (Hebrews 10:25).

It is necessary for the child of God to cultivate the discipline of regular attendance in God’s House. Such discipline will provide fellowship with other believers, teaching from God’s Word, sharing testimonies of what God has done, opportunity to pray for one another and an opportunity to communicate with God without the intrusion of everyday problems.

Can you say that your attendance in God’s House is after the example of the Lord Jesus “as was his custom”? Remember, God’s rules are for a purpose. He wants us to experience all the blessings that He has for us as we walk with Him and before others. Spiritual discipline is necessary if we are going to experience the blessing of God in our lives.

A word of warning - the spiritual disciplines are stepping-stones to spiritual maturity. In themselves there is no spiritual maturity. To regularly carry out the disciplines outlined in the spiritual discipline series does not make one spiritual. Spirituality comes as these disciplines begin to produce changes in our lives that bring us into greater conformity to Jesus Christ.