When Life Is Undisciplined

MEMORY SELECTION: “Flee also youthful lusts, but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” —II Timothy 2:22

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Romans 1:18-20, 24, 25

MAN was created perfect and with the ability to keep God’s laws. Because of disobedience to the divine commandments, the human family has fallen from grace and favor. Mankind is presently out of harmony with his Creator and has suffered because of that alienation. In our present world few are aware of the great plan of redemption that has been in progress for the eventual recovery of all that was lost by our first parents in the Garden of Eden.

Many are so fallen as to completely disregard any attempt at discipline in their lives. An undisciplined life is a sad thing to behold, and it is, unfortunately, of little lasting value either to the person himself or to others. And, of course, there are the heathen and the false Christians who have perverted the Word of God by their own misguided understanding of God’s plans. Many lives have been turned aside from God in aimless distractions—by temptations in the world, by their own weaknesses of the flesh, and by the Adversary.

The true Christian, on the other hand, appreciates God’s wonderful promises and strives to the best of his ability to understand them. He seeks to know in what ways he may be more pleasing to the Heavenly Father. He studies the Word of God and strives to bring his life into conformity with its teachings and is alert to apply himself in any way possible to the will of God. He will discipline himself in accordance with the standard of perfect righteousness as manifested by the Master Teacher.

One way that the child of God may discipline himself is first to heed and then to act upon the message contained in the memory selection for this week’s lesson: “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” The apostle’s admonition to put away those things of the flesh that are corrupting and to put on instead those things that are uplifting to the Christian is indeed wise counsel. Each and every step of the disciplined child of God is a blessed one.

We note, too, that in the context of the memory selection Paul exhorts (vs. 21), “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” The thought is that of self-purging, or discipline, in the ways of the Lord. We should begin at once to examine ourselves and to observe in what ways we can put away those things of the flesh that defile the new creature. And, it is necessary not only to start a good fight against our fallen natures but also to continue so doing, ever keeping the perfect standard of righteousness before our mental vision. Thus will we prepare ourselves for the glorious work of the future, when, if faithful even unto death, we may share in the work of dispensing blessings to all the families of the earth in the kingdom.

The importance of maintaining the standard of truth and righteousness is drawn to our attention by the apostle in our selected scriptural reading. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.” (Rom. 1:18) The wrath of God will be especially directed against those who have perverted the truth, that is, the heathen and the false Christians. However, there is a lesson in holiness to be learned by all who are called of God. The world of mankind will be dealt with when the kingdom of Christ is established. But those who have made a covenant with the Lord during the present age will be dealt with during this age in accordance with the degree of progress they have made in the narrow way. Many who have professed to be the Lord’s people will fail to meet the standards required of them and will be judged accordingly. Those who are faithful will receive the reward of glory, honor, and immortality.

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