As I post today, I must make a confession; I don't like Dr. Phil. If some of you do, that's OK with me, but personally I can't stand him. Its something about his attitude that just turns me off, something I just don't care for. However, this message is a good one and probably applies to more of us that we would like to admit. I know it makes me a little nervous because I am more than a little fat. For many of us there are medical and psychological reasons why we are overweight and before too many fingers are pointed, remember that we all have things to work on. Discipleship is a many faceted gem. Most of all, attitude is important. Consider what the apostle Paul has to say in this passage from the book of Ephesians.Eph 4:11-17
11 He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;12 for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;14 that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ;16 from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,WEB
11 He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;12 for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;14 that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ;16 from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,WEB
The Gentiles lived a life without Christ; many of them without any discipline whatsoever. True discipleship begins in the heart and eventually affects all aspects of life, not just one part. No amount of finger pointing or brow beating will make any difference at all; not with me anyway. Sometimes saying nothing at all is best; I know that's exactly what my wife did and one day in 1971 I just decided to quit smoking and have been smoke free ever since. I encourage everyone out there to think about their life and do what is best; and OH, yes, this passage teaches that other believers will help as well. Are you listening Gary?