We need to go to school. We need to learn from Jesus. Indeed, he invites us to learn from him:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”–Matt. 11:28-30
“A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.”–Luke 6:40
But will power will not get it done. Trying harder in the spiritual life will lead to frustration and disappointment. Dallas Willard observes: “We cannot behave ‘on the spot’ as Jesus did and taught if in the rest of our time we live as everybody else does.” Amen. We need to train for the spiritual life; not just try harder.
Paul tells us to “train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
Recently, I taught an equipping seminar on this topic called Soul School: Learning From Jesus How to Live. Understanding the training vs. trying distinction has been one of the most liberating expereinces of my Christian life. Spiritual disciplines and practices are for us; not God. It isn’t about performance, legalism, or guilt–it is about transformation.
(Description) How was Jesus able to do what he did? What did he think about? What practices and priorities did he arrange his life around? What does it look like ‘to train’ for the ‘Jesus way of life’? Being a disciple means becoming like our Teacher. The fundamental question you and I have to answer each day is…does Jesus know what he is talking about? If you have ever wondered about how spiritual disciplines work (without being motivated by guilt), then this seminar is for you.