Conversion by E. Stanley Jones
Spring is sprouting
You know how one things leads to another? That is how I happened upon the writings of a Methodist missionary named E. Stanley Jones (1884-1973). I was studying the Word-centered life and came across a collection of "Classic Devotionals." My connect group and I devoured the words of wisdom from this man.
"Conversion is a gift and an achievement. It is the act of a moment and the work of a lifetime. You cannot attain salvation by disciplines-it is the gift of God. But you cannot retain it without discipline."
So what do we do with the gift that was given for us on the cross? The forgiveness of our sins, that's literally life changing. And, the huge victory over the grave.
Stanley goes on to share seven disciplines that will carry us through this faith walk on earth.
1) Create the habit of reading God's Word daily, preferably in the morning.
2) Create the habit of praying in private.
3) Create the habit of passing on to others what you have been given through your reading and praying.
4) Keep the fire of your faith burning by keeping honest at any cost and confessing your sins.
5) Pray for those who have wronged you.
6) Give up habits that don't glorify God.
7) He references 2 Peter 1:5b-7 suggesting .... "After partaking of the divine nature add these things. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love."
The Song
“The Jesus Way” Phil Wickham
