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Anytime you are confronted with a particular endeavor or challenge, whether it is a class in school, a sport or athletic event, job or profession, a specific hobby or a wilderness backpacking adventure, you must make an initial decision to either accept or reject the challenge of committing yourself to that endeavor. The same applies to the Christian life. You must make an initial decision to either accept or reject the challenge of COMMITMENT to the claims of Christ or the Christian life.
After making an initial commitment to a particular endeavor or challenge, whether it is a class in school, a sport or athletic event, job or profession, a specific hobby or a wilderness backpacking adventure, there must be obedience to the standards, rules, regulations and authority related to that endeavor or challenge if you are to have a measure of success. In the same manner, after making an initial commitment to Jesus Christ, it is essential to be OBEDIENT to God's Word or instructions if you are to have success in the Christian life. These instructions are found in a book called "the Bible".
Once you have made your commitment and become involved in the endeavor or challenge, whether it is a class in school, a sport or athletic event, job or profession, a specific hobby or a wilderness backpacking adventure, you soon begin to experience difficulty and hardship. The enthusiasm you started with no longer exists and you now wish to drop out or quit. It is important to realize that this is the most critical stage of the endeavor you are involved with. At this time you must persevere in the difficulty and hard work if you expect to complete your goals, learn valuable lessons and reap the rewards of the challenge to which you have committed yourself. Likewise, once you have made a commitment to Christ and become involved in the Christian life, you soon begin to experience difficulty and hardship. Your enthusiasm about the Christian life no longer exists and you now prefer to forget the commitment you made. These hard times are probably the most critically important times of your Christian life. You must PERSEVERE in these hard times if you expect to learn the valuable lessons and reap the rewards that God has for you in the Christian life.
When you persevere through the intense difficulties and hardships of the endeavor or challenge to which you committed, whether it is your class in school, a sport or athletic event, job or profession or a specific hobby, you develop skills and knowledge in that endeavor or challenge that gives you the ability to train, teach and help others persevere through their difficulties and hardships. The same holds true with the Christian life. Persevering develops an understanding, insight and maturity that allows you to SERVE or help others persevere through the intense difficulties and hardships of the Christian life.
Since the inception of Voice of Wilderness in 1973, the Lord has used the wilderness setting, as well as the Four Disciplines to challenge many to commit their life to Jesus Christ. We are truly grateful for the privilege of serving our Lord and Savior over these many years.
Excerpted from “Voice of Wilderness - Four Disciplines”
Copies of this book may be obtained by contacting VOW.
and sending us your name, address and a check for $3.
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