Spiritual Disciplines for the Soul: Stability

William Gaultiere © 2005

Jesus chose to come into our flesh and world as our Messiah to sacrifice his life on the cross so that we could be reconciled to God.  Yet temptations came: Perhaps there was another way that wouldn’t require him suffering the horrors of all human sin, torture from brutes, and rejection from his followers and friends and even his Father?

• In the desert Satan offered Jesus an easier way to rule the world and Jesus replied, “Away from me Satan. For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only’” (Matthew 4:10b, NIV).

• Peter didn’t want Jesus to sacrifice his life on the cross.  “Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men’” (Matthew 16:23, NIV).

• In anticipation of his suffering Jesus resolved, “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.  Father, glorify your name!” (John 12:27-28, NIV).
• Jesus sweat drops of blood just before the cross.  Three times he wrestled within himself and yielded himself to the Father’s will: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42, NIV).
• His enemies sneered at him on the cross, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ” (Luke 23:35b, NIV).  Jesus’ reply?  “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46b, NIV).

Jesus endured.  In doing so the writer to Hebrews says, “He learned obedience from what he suffered” so he could become “the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him “(Hebrews 5:8b, 9b, NIV).  In this spirit monks from the time of the early Desert Fathers, through Saint Benedict, all the way to our modern day, practiced Jesus’ endurance in love by making a vow of stability to their communities, to stick together in the their calling from God to live, pray, and work together.  Their close proximity and daily disciplines stir up difficult issues for them but they commit not to run away but to keep seeking and serving God together through good times and bad. 

In a much more limited, but still very important way, when we make a commitment to God and others we ought to practice the discipline of stability, to endure together with and for Jesus’ sake.  In our group at times you’ll be tempted to quit prematurely – don’t!  Don’t give up on God’s work of grace.  “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another” (Hebrews 10:25a, NIV). 

When you’re tempted to quit a spiritual commitment recall these great words:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:1-3, NIV).