For our bodies to do the good works Jesus has prepared for us, we must be careful to have the right fuel in our tank. Today’s excerpt from The Disciplined Life is found on pages 21 and 22:
“[W]e might say that the physical power by which our bodies become employed in serving Jesus Christ is generated by the spiritual fuel that we faithfully stoke into the engine of our soul. In fact, this is not unlike the way God Himself, a most pure Spirit, rules the physical cosmos. We will not be able to fulfill our calling for true words and good works with our bodies if our approach to the care and feeding of our soul is merely catch-as-catch-can.
“In the repertoire of Kingdom disciplines, therefore, spiritual disciplines, are foundational to all other disciplines. Without a good regimen of spiritual disciplines, daily and faithfully pursued, we’re likely to fall short of what we need for making our bodies serve Jesus in all our relationships, roles, and responsibilities, and amid the hard knocks and disappointments of life. We must make certain that our soul—mind, heart, and conscience—is in order and ready to fulfill its role in the body.
“I don’t want us to take this for granted. You will not think about serving Christ with your body unless your mind is exercised and trained to focus on spiritual matters above all else. You won’t be inclined to serve others in love with your tongue or hands unless your heart is being daily steeped in the love of Jesus Christ. And you will doubtless fritter away many opportunities to make the most of your time unless, in your conscience, you have resolved and determined that the defining priority in all the moments of your life is to serve Christ and glorify God.
“From these powerful spiritual cylinders, well-tuned and richly fueled, the engine of our soul generates the power for good works our bodies require in every area of life.”
For reflection or discussion
1. How do you keep your “spiritual fuel tank” full and ready to generate spiritual energy?
2. Would you say that your mind, heart, and conscience are fully committed to serving Jesus? Explain.
The life we have in Jesus is eternal and spiritual. It only runs on a certain kind of fuel, and we must always be careful to keep our soul “topped-off” by making the best use of the spiritual disciplines available to us. We don’t pursue spiritual disciplines to be saved, but because we are saved and want to know more of our great salvation day by day. Share today’s podcast with some friends. Encourage your friends to listen to the podcast as well. Then get together to encourage one another in improving your spiritual disciplines. You can download a free copy of The Disciplined Life by going to The Ailbe Bookstore. Get yours, then share it with all your friends.
T. M. Moore
