War College Southside Blog

The Lord’s Discipline

After a tough battle we are down for the count.   Just want to keep everyone posted that Alex Anderson has decided to quit The War College.  We are still 3 strong and they are in it for the long haul!  Praise the Lord!

Just a reminder to those out there.   Sometimes the fight is not as easy as we want it to be or think it should be.  Hebrews 12 talks all about God’s discipline for those He loves.  Hebrews 12:1 encourages us to “lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance …”  Sin is heavy and painful.  It can hold us back and definitely make our fight harder the more we hold onto it.  God calls us to lay aside every weight so that the race is easier to endure.

In verse 11 …  “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.”  The War College is not supposed to be an easy, kick back year.  It’s meant to be a challenge.  It’s for those who want to deepen their relationship with the Lord and in order to do so they must give up whatever it is God asks them to give up.  These can include relationships, family, certain food and luxuries, clothes, other material things, as well as thought patterns, habits, schedules and the obvious, sin.  Sometimes people do not know they are even in sin until it is pointed out by others … we do that sometimes.  We learn how to gently correct others and hold them accountable … all out of love and concern for the others well being. Sometimes it is messy but God is here.

I know a few students (and non-students) who can testify to the ugliness of holding onto something we know which we ought to get rid of.  But once we do get rid of it the fruit is yielded and the race seems a bit lighter and we wonder why we held onto that “weight” for so long.

I exhort all believers to really take a look at their baggage.  What are you carrying with you that you should have dropped off long ago?  Why are you still holding onto it?

Let it go.  Cling closely to Christ, the author and perfecter of your faith.

R. Lewis