Abiding in Christ is the key to true and lasting change…
Serious men cultivate various disciplines in their lives—
Disciplines for health, relationships, business, and—most importantly—character.
The idea is that if we’re disciplined enough, we can shape ourselves into better men.
And while discipline is valuable, it always comes up short in some way.
That’s because the deepest changes we need can only happen by God’s Spirit.
This is why discipline alone can never transform our character at the core.
We need the ongoing work of grace and dependence on God for that.
Jesus made this clear when He spoke of abiding in Him:
“Just as a branch must abide in the vine to bear fruit, so must you abide in Me.”
No matter how much effort we exert, if we’re disconnected from Him, our efforts are in vain.
“It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing” (John 6:63).
I’ve found this to be absolutely true.
And of all the disciplines I’ve pursued, the most important has been learning to depend on God—not on my own discipline.
Abiding in Christ is the essential discipline for the changes we need most.
Make it your highest discipline.