Your Way of Life – 11 September 2009
In our final extract from “A Pilgrim Way” by Ray Simpson he gives further reasons why we should all consider a “Way of Life” and I’m thinking this is something I need to do.
“Jesus calls us to be disciples – to live in his disciplines. Freedom is found in discipline.
“Jesus calls us to be single of heart (Matt. 5:8). Endless influences compete for our minds, bodies, time and money. Unless we find out the priorities and values by which we choose to live, and stake these in our regular framework, we will be taken over.
“Jesus calls us to grow. A sapling requires a support stick it if is to grow to its potential without being eaten or blown away. We need a support framework if we are to grow to our full stature in Christ.
“Another objection (to a Way of Life) is that by having a set of guidelines we may saddle ourselves with guilt. “Law makes people know that they have sinned, but God’s way of putting people right has nothing to do with law … it is through Jesus Christ” (Roman 3:20-22). This way of life is the opposite of the legalism St Paul discards. It is about growing in awareness until we, like Jesus, walk in the heartbeat of the Father. It is a living organic, holistic walk with God, sustaind by reminders of God’s way – full of wonder.”
Simpson ends his introduction to A Pilgrim Way with this stark warning:
“A final reason to adopt a way of life is this: our civilisation is at its last gasp, gobbling up the earth’s non-renewable resources in a way that cannot be sustained. Unless a significant number of people adopt a sustainable way of life millions will die of plague, civil breakdown and hunger. If this catastrophe takes place, those who have adopted a way of simplicity, discipline and sustainable habits will be the survivors”.
If you were to look at my life, and perhaps you shouldn’t look too closely, you might find it difficult to identify the values and principles that guide me. Oh yes, you could probably work out I’m a Christian but it concerns me how little difference that seems to make in the way I live my life. How am I really any different to my non-Christian friends and acquaintances – if it’s simply a matter of having a different set of beliefs and having a strange habit of going to church on Sunday that’s not a lot is it?
But I am a child of God, called for His purposes, destined for fellowship with Him in eternity and here to make a difference for His kingdom. I suspect a Way of Life will help me recognise the journey I am on and to enjoy it, to walk in His ways and to be fully devoted in all I do to Jesus.
As you reflect on your own life and any lack of balance, rhythm, purpose and direction; but full of stress, frustration, disappointment and busyness, you may identify with one person who adopted a way of life and said “without a way of life I just go round in circles”. If your life is just going round in circles or if you want to know more about adopting a Way of Life you might enjoy “A Pilgrim Way” by Ray Simpson, published by Kevin Mayhew http://tinyurl.com/pilgrimway | 