God’s boundless love is so prodigious and abundant I sometimes take it for granted. It is totally unmerited I often think there is nothing I need to do to receive it. But I realize that I cannot come before the Lord with a sieve. Otherwise, the graces and blessings that God showers upon me will just fall through the holes, not doing me any good. Following Jesus is not easy. Not because he wants to give me a difficult time; but because I have to prepare myself to be worthy to be his disciple. I have to fill the holes in my life so that I can catch the graces God sends my way. I need discipline in my spiritual life. I need to apply the 10,000 hour rule to my spiritual life. I must make time and space for God to come into my life.
I remember something I read and learned from Henri Nouwen. He writes that discipleship and discipline go together. Discipleship without discipline is like running a marathon without practicing. Doing things that way, I might not be able to finish the race or even suffer serious injury. On the other hand, discipline without discipleship is like practicing for a marathon but never participating. I have to let God come into my life to change and transform me.
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:17-28