Selwyn uses a James Moffatt translation of 1 Timothy 1:5; ‘The aim of the Christian discipline is the love that springs from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith.’ to show that discipline can produce a love that is free to spring into action.
I like the way he expresses this idea: ‘Love can spring – that is, be spontaneous and free – only if it comes from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. In other words from a disciplined spirit. Any kind of freedom that leaves you with an impure heart, a bad conscience and an insincere faith ends not on springing and singing but in sighing and dying.’Â What do you think about this idea?
In addition, I also thought his conclusion was good: “Disciplined people have a sense of power for they know they are working with God, and that God is working with them. They have a love that ‘springs’. Liberty comes through obedience to God’s law. No matter what anyone says to the contrary, there is no liberty without discipline.”
As Selwyn says in his introduction “some people are afraid of the word ‘discipline’, as it conjures up an image of a harsh and rigid type of person”. What must be kept in mind is that God helps us to have a disciplined spirit – we cannot achieve this type of discipline by our own willpower. Instead of being harsh and rigid; a person who allows themselves to be led by God’s Spirit is full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control - these attributes sound like excellent outcomes, to me - surely, a Christian has nothing to fear with this type of discipline!
What’s your view on having a disciplined spirit?
Love that ‘springs’
Selwyn uses a James Moffatt translation of 1 Timothy 1:5; ‘The aim of the Christian discipline is the love that springs from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith.’ to show that discipline can produce a love that is free to spring into action.
I like the way he expresses this idea: ‘Love can spring – that is, be spontaneous and free – only if it comes from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. In other words from a disciplined spirit. Any kind of freedom that leaves you with an impure heart, a bad conscience and an insincere faith ends not on springing and singing but in sighing and dying.’Â What do you think about this idea?
In addition, I also thought his conclusion was good: “Disciplined people have a sense of power for they know they are working with God, and that God is working with them. They have a love that ‘springs’. Liberty comes through obedience to God’s law. No matter what anyone says to the contrary, there is no liberty without discipline.”
As Selwyn says in his introduction “some people are afraid of the word ‘discipline’, as it conjures up an image of a harsh and rigid type of person”. What must be kept in mind is that God helps us to have a disciplined spirit – we cannot achieve this type of discipline by our own willpower. Instead of being harsh and rigid; a person who allows themselves to be led by God’s Spirit is full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control - these attributes sound like excellent outcomes, to me - surely, a Christian has nothing to fear with this type of discipline!
What’s your view on having a disciplined spirit?