"To your self-control add perseverance."
If you've been following my blog posts, we've been gradually ascending St. Peter's steps to spiritual transformation, as outlined in 2 Peter 1:5-7. Our imaginary disciple friend Lucinda is going through some changes, and these are good changes. Her mind is being renewed in truth and one behavior has been changed. One time.
Lucinda's One Time Decision
In our example of how growth works, we’ve seen Lucinda make the gut wrenching decision to get out of bed and go to church even when her flesh really, really wants to stay under the covers. She’s not going to do this out of guilt or compulsion or trying to people-please. Her motivation, remember, is a desire to please the Lord by being obedient to Him, fueled by the knowledge of her identity as a member of the Church and the role of the Church. On that rainy day Lucinda got herself out of bed and went to church and was glad she did. Now the next step of perseverance needs to kick in.
Lucinda Keeps on Keeping On
Peter says to add perseverance to your self-control. Here's how the dictionary defines perseverance:
“steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.”
Now that she has taken action there has to be a steady persistence in Lucinda’s will. One time is a good start, but transformation means it happens from now on.
You’ve probably heard this: that it takes 21 repetitions of anything to make it a habit. So 21 weeks of denying her desire to stay in bed on Sunday morning gets replaced by the stronger and higher desire to please the Lord with the decision to join the family in corporate worship. This is so very different from the “if it feels good do it” idea of Christianity.
Lucinda's Discipline
It takes discipline, and you do see the same root word in disciple, right? To be a disciple of Christ is to exercise discipline of the mind and the will.
It’s amazing how God turns these things from a dutiful drudgery into pure joy.
What’s next? See you in the next post and we’ll find out.
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