Here is a dire warning to sober us up:
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. Hebrews 2:1 (ESV)
So here is the rule of thumb – drift away from your daily time in the Bible or your weekly time in corporate gathering for worship and the Word, and you will drift away from God. You may not know exactly how, but drift away you shall. Much closer attention, not occasional or faltering attention, is required.
To this end I appreciated a recent blog post from Sarah Walton, Don’t Lose Spiritual Disciplines for Fear of Legalism, which includes an insightful quote from John Piper.
Click on the link, and enjoy her insights, but here is her differentiation between legalism and discipline:
- “Legalism is being disciplined in order to live up to the law in our own strength, for the sake of achieving justification of sins. (We can resort to this way of living even after becoming genuine believers, trying to save ourselves even though we have been given the gift of salvation in Christ.)
- “Godly discipline is being disciplined in the strength of the Holy Spirit, with the purpose of sanctification, fully aware that justification comes only through salvation in Christ. For this reason we can say, ‘Christ has bought me with a price and, therefore, I will discipline myself to run the race he has set before me, ‘laying aside every weight and sin that clings so closely”(Hebrews 12:1).
And while we’re on the subject, it seems appropriate that I direct your attention once again to Mez McConnell’s recent insights: Why Do So Many Walk Away From The Christian Faith?
Entrusted with the Gospel 