Thoughts on Discipleship by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

CHOICES WE MAKE, THINGS WE DO

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” Psalm 1:1-6

Pick it out! In the Psalm above, there is (1) something to NOT do. (2) something to do. (3) The attendant reward of life of both actions, and (4) the future status of those values and lifestyles.

Believing that these things are literally true, what kind of commitment should every person make to the Great, Creator, Savior God? Those who have the “born from above” experience in life know right well that they came to God in repentance of sins, accepting Christ Jesus as their personal Savior, and that without any reservation. But, in the course of life there are the battle lines and conflict times. Being a Christian is enjoyable from the viewpoint of formal worship, social fellowship, and times of ease and peace, but what about the other times? When life becomes stormy, friends are critical, oppression heated, embarrassment certain, or for some other reason we become just plain doubtful. What then? Often commitment to Christ falls victim to fleshly reservation to alter or tweak that commitment to a more comfortable position in the flesh. But do we have that right? The answer must be a resounding “NO” we do not! Moreover such failures in Christian life evidence that the wonderful, promise-filled scriptures as Psalm One, Romans 8:28, Hebrews 13:5 do not have their place properly embedded in the heart.

A committed relationship with Christ Jesus is not a “tit-for-tat, if you will do this, I will do that,” affair. It is more like a binding contract that consists of a blank page of paper offered to God with your signature at the bottom. It is a willingness for God to implement whatever terms of life he has designed for you in the full realization that He is the Creator; we are the created; we are the saved; He is the Savior. We are the subjects of judgment; He is the Judge. Any withdrawal of our commitment to Him, or any reservation or exception to His will must be labeled plainly and simply what it is: sin! Obedience to God is not just a good idea, it is always right. Resting in His mighty hands is the best possible place for one’s life. It is also the place where His choice blessings are realized. Maybe it is time for many of us to revisit our commitment to Christ in day to day life. The outcome of that commitment will be realized as revealed in Psalm One. There will be no exceptions.

FOR THOUGHT: If commitment to Christ is to be taken as seriously as the Bible presents it, how can it be right to say “Just attend the church of your choice?” Should it not rather be “Attend the church of His choice?” How can there be justification of life fashioned by personal preference, social mores, and not by the teaching of Him Whom we profess to worship?