Disciplined for Christlikeness

Weekly Update – June 23rd, 2022

We all go through difficult times.  Even as Christians, we still face cancer, accidents, or the loss of loved ones.  Some of our adversity may be chronic and difficult.  Some adversity may be short and mild.  Either way, God has not exempted His children from the painful circumstances and situations of life.  Then we add to this, that not only does God not exempt believers from pain, but He actually allows it and even ordains it into our lives.  If we believe that God is sovereign in all that He does, then we cannot deny this relationship that God has with our adversity.  The comfort that we can take in the midst of knowing God’s control over our pain, is that it is all used in our lives for a purpose.

Romans 8:28-29 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…”  This is God’s purpose for our lives.  To look more like His son Jesus Christ.  The question that remains is, “how are we made to look like Jesus.”  Hebrews 12:5-11 gives us a clue.  It says, “…My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord…for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son whom he receives…he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.  For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”  So then, if we put these two passages together, we grow into the likeness of Christ, or in holiness and in the display of righteousness, through discipline.  Here is what this means:

First, we are positively disciplined for Christlikeness.  Typically when we hear that word discipline, we think of it in a harsh and retributive way.  Instead, we should take the word discipline and expand its meaning.  The word discipline is very similar to the world disciple.  That means that God may bring adversity into our lives in order to shape, mold and change us.  This may have nothing to do with anything we have done.  Consider Job who was “blameless and upright” (Job 1:1) or Joseph who the Lord caused “all that he did to succeed” (Gen. 39:4).  Both men endured great difficulties according to God’s purposes for their lives.  The apostle Paul, in a similar way, asked the Lord to take away an ailment in his life.  The Lord responded to his plea by saying, “my grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor. 12:9).  The reason for this positive discipline is because it is through trials that God builds endurance in our faith, steadfastness in our hope and joy in our hearts.  This is all for the purpose of, in the end, being perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (Jas. 1:4).   

Second, we are negatively disciplined for Christlikeness.  There is also a corrective side of the word discipline.  When we face adversity in our lives, it may be the Lord allowing a difficult situation to come about, so that we might examine our hearts and repent of a certain sin pattern.  In Psalm 73, there is an example of a man named Asaph who is struggling with the prosperity of the wicked.  He is likely enduring adversity from their hands and it causes him to examine his own heart.  In verse 13 he says, “…I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.”  David in a very similar manner examines his own heart in the midst of some personal difficulties and says, “…let the bones that you have broken rejoice.” (Ps. 51:8) and “…my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me.” (Ps. 32:3-4).  This led him to acknowledge his sin and confess his transgression (Ps. 32:5).  Asaph examined himself and found himself to be clean.  David examined himself and repented of his sin.  The bottom line is, adversity should cause us to reflect upon our own hearts.

Jerry Bridges in his book titled, Trusting God, says, “The good that God works for in our lives is conformity to the likeness of His son.  It is not necessarily comfort or happiness but conformity to Christ in ever-increasing measure in this life and in its fullness in eternity.”  God’s desire for our lives is holiness.  That may entail a degree of adversity, both for the purpose of causing us to repent and change as well as trust and depend upon him even more.  Either way, we must believe that all God does and all that he brings into our lives is ultimately for the purpose of our good and for his glory.

Serving Him with You,
Pastor Michael Nelson

Written by Pastor
Michael Nelson

Fighter Verse for the Week

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." - 1 Peter 5:6-8

Announcements:

Membership Matters Class: Beginning Sunday morning, June 5th, there will be a Membership Matters class for those interested in joining FBC. This 4 week class will be held in the library at 9:15 am during the Bible Study hour on Sunday mornings. Sign up in the hall if you plan to attend. You can find out more about our membership process HERE. 

Summer Picnic: On Sunday, July 3rd, from 5:00pm-7:00pm, First Baptist Church will host a picnic at Freedom Park in Grandview. The church will supply chicken and drinks. You supply the sides and dessert. Sign up in the hall for what you plan to bring.

Vacation Bible School: This year, we will host Vacation Bible School on Monday, July 11th-Friday, July 15th from 5:45-8:00pm. We will serve dinner at 5:15pm Monday through Thursday of that week, with Friday being our Family Night. The theme for this year is Monumental: Celebrating God’s Goodness. You can learn more about this theme HERE. We are in need of several volunteers. If you are interested, sign up in the hallway or talk with Alaina Bonin or Kim McNally for more information.

Bible Study

Join us in the Sanctuary at 9:15am on Sunday mornings for a study titled “The Pursuit of Holiness.” A women’s Bible Study also meets at the same time at then end of the hall near the nursery.

First Wednesday Prayer

Join us on the first Wednesday of every month at 7:00pm in the sanctuary for an hour of prayer. More information can be found HERE.

Giving

To Give Online, Go HERE. 

You can also mail your offering to: 1416 Main Street, Grandview, MO. 64030

Home Groups

Home Groups meet 5:30pm-7:30pm on Sundays through the summer. You can find more information about home groups HERE.

Prayer

An updated Prayer Guide can be accessed HERE. 

Prepare for Sunday

Guide for Worship can be found HERE.