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THURSDAY THOUGHT 9/25/08

In Spiritual Training
 
My brother — a tough old goat in his 60s — not only does medical mission work in impoverished places like Mongolia, Bolivia, Africa, Afghanistan (he was ticked off because his trip to Darfur was canceled because it was too dangerous), but he also runs marathons.  So, when he’s not fishing, working or sipping on tequila, he’s training — running miles a day, swimming in the frigid Maine lakes, or biking like Pee Wee Herman around Mt. Desert Island.  Very self-disciplined.
 
Then, lo and behold, I read of Jesus, also training for His mission.  Forty days fasting in the desert (seriously, imagine 40 days without food!)  dealing with the temptations of that unctuous and persistent devil, and coming out of it all steeled, hardened, and “in the power of the spirit.”
 
My point:  It seems to me that faith is not a matter of falling down in rapture and hoping God doesn’t step on us.  It’s about being tough, knowing what God wants from us (the rules are in His Book; read it!), and being disciplined enough to follow The Way He’s laid out for us.  God bless, and enjoy the spirit-strengthening challenges of this day. — jri
 
“When the devil had finished all this
tempting, he left him until an opportune
time.  Jesus returned to Galilee in the
power of the spirit, and news about him
spread throughout the whole countryside.
He taught in their synagogues, and
everyone praised him.”
        –    Luke 4:13-15