And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all

  - 2 Corinthians 2.3

Observe the sorrow of our discipline, understand that we do not pass from joy to joy nor from security to security, but from grief to joy and from trial to security.

  - Columbanus, Sermon IV, Irish, 7th century

Many Christians these days go for contemporary praise music, they tell me, because it’s so joyful. Singing praise songs gives them joy, and makes their worship of God joyful.

And I have to agree: the lyrics at least, and many of the melodies, seem to suggest that joy and peace are the normal state of the life of faith. And if they aren’t, they should be.

But is this faithful to the spirit of Christianity? To the Man of Sorrows? The martyrs and saints? Is believing in Jesus all joy and peace, without sorrow or discipline?

Paul wrote a painful letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians); then, following the leading of the Spirit, he changed his mind about visiting them, because he was certain that nothing had changed in their circumstances, and he knew he would just have to jump their case all over again, causing still more pain from the very people to whom he was looking for joy.

So he delayed, and when he did, the Corinthians did the right thing, straightened up their act, and became a cause of rejoicing to Paul, who had been terribly burdened and grieved by their disobedience. Now, he wrote, he could come to them rejoicing, and they would share his joy.

But it didn’t come easily. Discipline is a hard road – whether it’s the daily disciplines of prayer, meditation, reading, and so forth, or the discipline imposed by church leaders to get us to do what we’re supposed to do in following Jesus.

Columbanus understood this. He and his companions endured the most rigorous discipline as they labored to renew the churches in Gaul in the earth 7^th century. Their sufferings and trials bore much fruit of joy in the Lord.

Discipline is painful and not a great joy. Not while we’re in it, any way. If it were, more people would be more consistent in their disciplines.

But discipline is the way to joy. You can’t get to real, lasting joy apart from the discipline of suffering – either correction for sin, resistance to temptation, striving for holiness, or bearing up under trials. Don’t try to shortcut your way to joy by singing cheery little praise songs over and over. Getting to real joy is via the road of discipline.

If you want the one, you’ll embrace the other.

Psalm 50.14, 15 (Austrian Hymn: “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken”)
“Sacrifice of thanks now render; pay to God your solemn vows.
Let the troubled, each offender, seek Him in the midst of woes.
In the day of strife draw near Him; He will hear, and He will save.
Honor God, rejoice and fear Him, give to Him your grateful praise.”

Lord, teach me how to be more disciplined in my life with You.

Psalms to Pray for Today, Saturday, and Sunday
Today
Morning: Psalm 119.65-72; Psalm 61
Evening: Psalm 137

Saturday
Morning: Psalm 119.73-80; Psalm 62
Evening: Psalm 138

Sunday
Morning: Psalm 119.81-88; Psalm 63
Evening: Psalm 139

T. M. Moore, Principal
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

All Psalms for singing from The Ailbe Psalter. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.