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Spiritual Formation: It's Still About Grace
Whoa. What got into Greg?
I've heard that once or twice this week. What happened? What's up? Did our grace-preaching, all-about-love, feel-good pastor suddenly turn on us and is now teaching about.......gulp, discipline?
Don't worry. It's still me. And it's still about grace.
Grace is not the opposite of discipline. It is not the opposite of trying; it is the opposite of earning. We know that we are saved not by our works or efforts, but by God's grace alone. Transformation of the heart is also a work only God can accomplish. Spiritual discipline is simply the art of putting ourselves in God's presence so his work can be done in us.
Let me be clear about this: it is not our salvation that is at stake; it is the formation, maturing and deepening of our walk as a disciple of Christ. It is going beyond to the next step of what God has for us here on earth.
So what's all the fuss about spiritual formation? Dallas Willard writes that "it is a process that happens to everyone. Terrorists as well as saints are the outcome of spiritual formation. Their spirits or hearts have been formed."
Maybe it's time to take a look at what and who has formed our own spirits and hearts throughout our lifetime. More importantly, what can we do to make a turn-around so that our insides are being formed by the One who calls our name. Isaiah 43:1 reads,
But now, this is what the LORD says - he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine."
This is really, really important, guys. Let's not settle for less.
Greg |
