Discipline of Devotion
Discipline of Devotion: Study on Chapter 7 of Disciplines of a Godly Man (R. Kent Hughes)
Food for Thought
How much time
(Q) How much time do you generally spend in conversation with God? In your view (without using evangelical cliches), why is prayer an important part of the Christian walk?
(A) 1~2 hours (morning QT and through the day). Prayer is important because that is my identity. God is living in me, I communion with God, and prayer is the communication channel. But since I am also in flesh which is against God I can’t function without daily bread - His Words, conversation with God.
Meditation
(Q) What does the word meditation suggest to you? Why should you meditate on the Lord and His Word and will (compare Psalm 1:2; Revelation 2:27, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22)?
- (Psalm 1:2) but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
- (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
(A) Meditation is to read/hear and think through and to put them into the heart/ I should meditate to put the Words into my heart otherwise they are only in my brain. I don’t want my God resides only in my brain but in my heart. So my conduct, my speech, my thought can reflect His Words and Him.
Devotion and Confession
(Q) What does devotion have to do with confession, and vice versa? Check out Psalm 139:23, 24; 66:18 in this regard.
- (Psalm 139:23-24) Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
- (Psalm 66:18) If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
(A) Devotion leads to confession since often times we don’t realize our sins but God can reveal. Confession leads to devotion since God pleased by our confession and repentance; that is worshiping holy God.
- (Luke 15:7) Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
God Knows All
(Q) In what ways do you identify with Isaiah’s confession in Isaiah 6:5? When you are aware that God knows all about the things you think and do and say, do you feel “ruined”? Why or why not?
- (Isaiah 6:5) And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
(A) Yes, because, as Isaiah confessed I am totally a sinner and God is holy and righteous. But also “no”, because, Jesus Christ has cleansed my sins so I am justified. Am I not struggle with my sin with His all knowing. Of cause, I am in flesh and struggle all the time. When I do commit sin I felt “ruined”, terrible, not worthy. But I confess & repent from my heart and He is faithful and forgives - I am not talking about consequences brought by my sin but talking about spiritual forgiveness. Peace with God and peace of God.
- (John 13:10) Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”
Hear His Voice
(Q) Are you usually in too much of a hurry to “see” God or hear His voice? What can you do to make more time for Him?
(A) I think I more am hurry to see God than to here His voice. But praise God, He allows me to have plenty of time for hearing His voice. So to me, “more focus” is needed than “more time”. Therefore, discipline is necessary as we do now. Discipline of saying “no” to distractions, saying “not to satan’s temptation, and saying “no” to much less important stuffs - like watching YouTube.
Barriers or Distractions
(Q) Do you find it difficult to make time to meditate, to confess, to worship, to consciously surrender to God? What barriers or distractions keep you from doing these things?
(A) Praise God, to me making time for devotion is easier. But, to me, “focusing” is needed - the quality of the devotion. So barriers are, sins, laziness, and most of all, “lack of discipline” - “saying no”.
Applications
Application/Response
What did God speak to you about most specifically, most powerfully in this chapter? Talk to Him about it right now!
(Page 83) The more we expose our lives to the white-hot sun of His righteous life, the more His image will be burned into our character - His love, His compassion, His truth, His integrity, His humility. General William Harrison maintained a disciplined devotional life for over seventy years. People say his presence brought a distinct sense of Christ.
Some article says, since 20 years old, he read OT once and NT 4 times every year; in his life time he read 70 times of OT and 280 times of NT. He must be very busy as a high ranking general but was disciplined. As a result, “his presence brought a distinct sense of Christ” which I desire to have. I pray to God to reveal Him more clearly so I joyfully and faithfully go deeper into meditation and discipline (good circles of discipline, meditation, and joy - more discipline, more meditation, and more joy).
Think About It!
What facets (양상,측면) of true worship do you find in the following assorted (여러가지) Bible passages: Psalms 146-150; Luke 1:46-55; Revelation 4-5; Isaiah 6:8; Romans 12:1? What can you do to experience these aspects of worship?
- (Psalms 146-150): Hallelujah Psalms; start and end with Hallelujah (Praise the Lord!)
- (Luke 1:46-55): Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat
- (Revelation 4-5): The Throne in Heaven & The Scroll and the Lamb
- (Isaiah 6:8): And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
- (Romans 12:1) I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
(Lk 1:46-47) And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior The more we know of Him the more we praise Him - Mary, David, Isaiah, John and Paul are godly saints, so His grace and my discipline, they will work together to praise Him.
