Monday, July 24, 2017 Will Worship: Willpower, the Counterfeit of Self Control (Inspired by Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster)
Monday, July 24, 2017
Will Worship: Willpower, the Counterfeit of Self Control
(Inspired by Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster)
Scripture:
*I have included two versions for helpful language
comparisons
Colossians 2:20-23
(KJV)
20 Wherefore
if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though
living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch
not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which
all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which
things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and
neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
(NASB)
20 If
you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the
world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself
to decrees, such as, 21 “Do
not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”22 (which all refer to things
destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and
teachings of men? 23 These
are matters which have, to be sure, the ]appearance of wisdom
in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the
body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such
things there is no law.
Devotional:
(Celebration of Discipline, Chapter
1 pp. 4-6 (edited for length)):
“Sin is part off
the internal structure of our lives. No special effort is needed to produce it.
No wonder we feel trapped.
Our
ordinary method of dealing with ingrained sin is to launch a frontal attack. We
rely on our willpower and determination…..But the struggle is all in vain, and
we find ourselves once again morally bankrupt or, worse yet, so proud of our
external righteousness that “whitened sepulchers” is a mild description of our
condition…..(Col. 2:20-23, KJV). “Will Worship”—what a telling phrase, and how
descriptive of so much of our lives! The moment we feel we can succeed and
attain victory over sin by the strength of our will alone is the moment we are
worshiping the will. Isn’t it ironic that Paul looks at our most strenuous
efforts in the spiritual walk and calls them idolatry, “will worship”?
Willpower will
never succeed in dealing with the deeply ingrained habits of sin…..(it) has no
defense against the careless word, the unguarded moment….it can only deal with
externals. It is incapable of bringing about the necessary transformation of
the inner spirit.”
Willpower. What a subject. Like many “virtues” of our modern
culture, it is pretty closely related to what we are called to as believers.
However, we are blessed to have the Truth of the Word to remind us what i we
are called to, and to open our eyes to the genuine article God has for us. It
is not willpower—Instead, we are given by the Holy Spirit the fruit that comes
from abiding in Him—self control. Trees cannot by their own effort produce
fruit; neither can we by our own effort apart from the Holy Spirit produce the
righteousness needed to avoid living in habitual sin.
By the Holy Spirit, we can develop and grow in self-control.
We may continue to struggle and find ourselves taking steps forward and back as
we develop in Him, but the longer we abide in the Word and rest in the Lord,
the more like Him we become and the more His Spirit produces that beautiful
fruit of self-control. The life of the disciple is, as C.S. Lewis so
beautifully stated, “a long obedience in the same direction.” Like riding a bicycle,
the longer we keep trying the less often we will fall. Don’t focus on the fall,
my friend! Get back on and learn to glide.
Prayer:
Lord, I repent if I have made my will the god of my life.
Forgive me for trying to be “better” and change my habits by my own will power.
Teach me the art of abiding in You, Lord. I thank You that I have the privilege
of being in Christ, and He in me. I receive anew the refreshing infilling of
the Holy Spirit. I ask that You will continually nudge me to allow You to change
me by Your Spirit.
Intercession:
Take time to review prayer requests for each child. I also
do this for my husband and myself. Make note of answered prayers. Give God
glory, praise Him for His work in your life.
In Your Name, Lord, I give you this day and this week. Bless
our home, and cause each of us to glide by Your power. In Jesus’ Name I pray,
amen.
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