“We desire to read the Bible, we want to study
it, we want to read a commentary; but we do not feel like it at the moment, we
think it is a bad thing to try to do these things when we do not feel at our
best, and we had better put it off until we feel better, there will be a more
appropriate opportunity later on. Or we have not the time, or we lack the
opportunity. It is beyond dispute that most of us are living lives that are
seriously lacking in discipline and in order and in arrangement. There are so
many things that distract us. You start with your morning newspaper and then in
a few hours comes your evening paper. I need not waste time in detailing all
those things, the radio, the television and the things we have to do, meetings
to attend, incidents here and there. The fact is that every one of us is
fighting for his life at the present time, fighting to possess and master and
live our own life.
Now the simple answer to that is, that it is
sheer lack of discipline, it is sheer failure to order our life. It is no use
complaining about circumstances. We all have time! If we have time to do these
other things, we do have the time, and the whole secret of success is to take
the time and insist that it is given to this matter of the soul instead of to
these other things.
What is the treatment prescribed by the apostle
for this condition? First and foremost he emphasizes “all diligence” (2 Peter
1:5). “Make every effort”—according to another translation. That is it—“make
every effort.” Give all diligence, or as it is translated in the tenth verse,
be more zealous than ever before to do these things. Here is the treatment
then, the exercise of discipline and of diligence.
You have all the time there is! ‘Redeeming the time, because the days are
evil...Ephesians 5:16.’ We all have
time! The whole secret of success is to take that time and give it to matters
of the soul instead of to other things.
Lord, so many things do distract me from my study of your word, even
things that seem good and important at the time. Enable me to discipline my
life and order my time according to your priorities.”
- D. Martyn Lloyd Jones From ‘Reflections-A Treasury of Daily Readings’ Published by Word Publishing USA 1994 Page 273.
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