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A RULE OF LIFE
by Fr. John R. Spencer, Vicar
Why is a rule necessary?
Basics of a good rule
Worship God every Sunday in His church
Pray daily
Devotional reading
Sacrificial giving
Self-denial
Ministry
Study
WHY IS A RULE NECESSARY?
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Most of us have told ourselves at one time or another that we'd like to take our faith more seriously; we'd like to exercise our religion more faithfully. But we don't know how to go about it.
If we are really serious, a Rule of Life will help. Centuries of Christian experience have proved that there are certain ways to get to know God better, and practices that will help us become more spiritual in our outlook on daily life. The goal must always to be to work on putting God first in our thoughts, and in our actions.
Developing and squarely following a Rule of Life will pay great rewards over the years of our lives.
Every good athlete works daily on conditioning, disciplining his or her body, mind, and spirit to develop greater stamina (staying power) and developing the strength to run and win the race. St. Paul described the Christian life as a race, in which we are all running to win a crown of everlasting life. Our Rule of Life will become the daily discipline that gets us seriously into the race, keeps our head up and our heart beating as we run the race, and brings us at last to the finish line of God's promise of eternal life in fellowship with himself.
BASICS OF A GOOD RULE
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Worship God Every Sunday In His Church
From the early Church on down through the centuries, the unbroken rule of serious Christians has been to worship Jesus Christ weekly on 'The Lord's Day." Our role model in this is Jesus himself. St. Luke tells us that the first thing Jesus did after his temptations in the desert was to begin his public ministry by returning to his hometown and "going to church":
“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the Sabbath day.” (Luke 4:14).
We often hear people say they are too busy or too tired to go to worship. But we see from the gospel that even for the most important man in history, regular worship on the Sabbath was a faithful discipline.
We can do no less. If we can not discipline ourselves to worship at least once a week with the Body of Christ, how can we kid ourselves into thinking that He will be first in our lives every other day of the week?
Weekly worship should include regular reception of Holy Communion, as this sacramental meal is the most important "meeting" our Lord himself left to us, where we share in his very Body and Blood, the food that nourishes our own souls and bodies in the life of God. We must begin every communion service with a careful personal self-examination, and a personal act of confession and contrition. We cannot approach God in sincerity until we have honestly acknowledged our recent sins before him and made a firm purpose not to commit the confessed sin {or sins) again.
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Pray Daily
Weekly worship is simply the springboard for daily prayer. After communing with God in the Church's corporate worship, we are then sent out "to do the work he has given us to do." Each "work day," whatever our life's work may be, must begin and end with prayer to our maker, our lord. A simple act of morning devotion, perhaps accompanied by a short reading of scripture, will set our day on the correct course. We will approach that day's activities with a clearer awareness of whom we live for, and who it is we are serving. Similarly, as we wind down and seek rest at night, we must offer up to God our past day's activities -including its sins or failures--with a prayer that he will give us rest and new strength for the coming day. Prayer each day should include the basics: Praise, Adoration, Thanksgiving, Intercession for those in special need, and Grace before every meal.
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Devotional Reading
In addition to reading a short scripture each morning, we will greatly benefit by setting aside a definite amount of time each week for more in depth reading and study of the Bible, and other devotional books. If you don't own a good study Bible in a modern translation, don't delay buying one. Visit a Christian bookstore on a regular basis to find other devotional reading that addresses special areas of interest-or need-that you have. Reading is food for the soul, and the soul that goes hungry will wither away.
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Sacrificial Giving
We all think we're too poor or hard up to give much money to the work of God. But financial support of our local church and other Christian ministries is a key to successful spiritual growth. For only when we give until it hurts a little will we become sympathetic with the "hurt" that others live with daily, while we enjoy a fairly full and pleasant life-style. Much of the world is starving, not only for food but also for the Word of God. Financial support of the gospel is necessary to see his kingdom expand in this world. Our Lord promised that where we put our treasure, there our heart will be also.
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Self-Denial
This is a difficult one these days. Our culture teaches us that we must not deny ourselves anything. But it is only when we give something up to grow closer to our Lord that we can begin to understand the nature of the sacrifice he made for us. His death was the ultimate sacrifice: unjust, unwarranted, and complete agony. Our little acts of self-denial over the course of years won't win any more of his love, but will enable us to appreciate His love more fully.
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Ministry
Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit has given each one of us particular gifts that must be put to use in the service of God's kingdom in this world (1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4). Part of our life of prayer must be to ask God's help to recognize what gifts he has given each of us, and pray for the power and desire to put those gifts to work for him. Using the gifts and talents he himself gave us is one important form of self-discipline, and an important act of love to our holy Lord. If you talk with your priest or pastor, you will find guidance about where your particular gifts can best benefit your church family and your community.
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Study
Learn about the Church. Learn its history and the history and development of the Bible. Understanding the history and traditions of the Church will give them much greater meaning when you experience them in worship. Centuries of Christians have gone before you. Learn to appreciate the gifts they have passed down to us through the years that enrich our own spiritual journeys today.
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