I was asked to provide a short devotion the other day, around the topics of reading the bible and praying. To be quite honest, I grew up in a family that didn't pray, say grace before meals or particularly acknowledge God in the home at all. Only occasionally did I ever see my mother pick up a Good News version of the bible, and I never read it myself as a child or teenager. So they are disciplines I guess I struggle with to some degree and at times I almost feel guilty that I don't engage with these practices enough.
Having said that, in the past I have also truly encountered God in significant ways through prayer and through the word. The bible to me is not like any other book I could read. On two occasions, a number of years ago, I opened up the bible and found myself bawling my eyes out - even to the point of thinking maybe I was depressed... It was a little weird as the verses themselves didn't really mean much to me in an emotional way. The Spirit of God was moving, as only He can. Maybe it was nothing more than a good reminder.
Hebrews 12:28-29
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire."
The background to this verse can be found in Deuteronomy. I guess it speaks of the relationship we are to have with God, which is sacred and to be honoured, in much the same way as a marriage covenant. Not to be taken too lightly at all. The shaking bit suggests that all of creation can be shaken, but not the things of God... and so we are called to Holiness. The rest of chapter 12 in Hebrews is worth a read in this context too.
Deuteronomy 4: 23-24
Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
Hebrews 12: 14-15
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
Anyway, back to the topic or reading the bible and praying. With what is almost an ongoing struggle to engage with these practices in a consistent and meaningful way, my mind tends to go towards the spectrum between grace on one hand and self- discipline on the other. On one side of this spectrum, we see self- discipline. Which is the 30 min devotion time first thing in the morning and maybe following a bible reading plan. It might also look like a shopping list prayer, grace before meals or a quick "Help me God" when looking for a parking spot at the supermarket at Christmas time. There is absolutely nothing wrong with any of these things, and maybe I should engage with them more.
James 2:17
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
On the side of Grace, is the dependence upon the Spirit of God and his enablement and guidance in the process. It is not trying to strive, or work it all out ourselves but understanding that it is only through the righteousness that we have in Christ that we can approach God. The Christian life in reality is maybe an impossible (and pointless(?)) one, without the wonderful Grace of God. I remember I had an encounter with the Holy Spirit whilst in Africa a good number of years ago now, and after coming home, I found that reading the bible was all of a sudden quite easy and appealing - whereas it hadn't been before. There was a new grace on it for me at that time. Nothing at all for me to boast in.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
The reality of all this, for me, though, is that there is merit in both of these ideas. I don't think these two ideas are necessarily opposing one another, but rather the point at which we engage sits somewhere in the middle. We do need to make a choice on an ongoing basis - to offer God our time and efforts almost as a sacrifice. But just as equally we can pray for (and receive) Grace in the process.
The most important thing to me is the topic I brought up earlier - our relationship with God, and the call to us to be set apart to some degree; to honour and trust Him and to live in holiness. I heard someone say in wisdom once – that in any relationship we have the choice either to connect or disconnect. There is nothing the neutral territory in the middle. I guess it is the same with God. It changes the focus for me from one of self – discipline and trying harder, to focusing more on the goodness and nature of God and my desire for the things of the Kingdom. This keeps me going, engaged and hungry for more. What matters more than the doing, is the posture of my heart and the submission of my will. My heart hopefully will be always to know God more and to seek His ways. My will I need to lay down regularly to some degree….
There are also seasons in all of this. As I mentioned before, I went through a season where God met me in His word - and I was undone (crying my eyes out) in my living room for 15 minutes over unshakeable kingdoms, in a way that seemed random and I couldn't comprehend. At that time, I was well aware of the presence of God in my life. On the other hand, there are also seasons where the word feels dry and it is an ongoing effort to engage. Self - discipline does need to play a role in my daily time with God and my phone needs to be in another room.... I am also sure there is grace in the seasons of life of busyness, sickness and other heavy time commitments.
I am also sure God meets us in the 'help me' moments of prayer and supplication, but if I can pray the will of God - wow, then I start to see answered prayer. The trick is in seeking his face and discerning or knowing his will. This happens for me in spending time in simple worship/ adoration as well as being in unity with other Christians at times. Where 2 or 3 are gathered He does seem to turn up in our midst. Lord, teach me/ us to pray in the Spirit, and to hear your voice!
Mark 12: 28 – 33
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
Matt 6: 33 -The Passion translation
So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly.
We are righteous only by the work of Jesus. Therefore we don’t need to strive or ‘work it all out’ too much. Rather, we can place our focus on God and ask for His ways and His perspective in any given situation. The discipline side of things is still important but maybe more important is what is in our hearts and the relationship itself, that we have with God.
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