A Compelling Testimony: Maintaining a Disciplined Walk, Christlike Character, and Godly Relationships as God's Servant

Ses s i on 6: Cu l t i vat i ng Our Commun i t y : The “Corporate” Di sc i p l i nes 293

will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. [24] Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.”

c. John 15.14 – You are my friends if you do what I command you.

d. 1 John 2.5 – but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him.

IV. The Discipline of Celebration

Neh. 8.10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Celebration is at the heart of the way of Christ. He entered the world on a high note of jubilation: “I bring you good news of a great joy,” cried the angel, “which shall come to all the people” (Luke 2.10). He left the world bequeathing his joy to the disciples: “These things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15.11). Andre Trocme in Jesus-Christ et la revolution non-violente and later John Howard Yoder in The Politics of Jesus go to some length to demonstrate that Jesus began his public ministry by proclaiming the year of Jubilee (Luke 4.18, 19). The social implica tions of such a concept are profound.* Equally penetrating is the realization that, as a result, we are called into a perpetual Jubilee of the Spirit. Such a radical, divinely enabled freedom from possessions and a restructuring of social arrangements cannot help but bring celebration. When the poor receive the good news, when the captives are released, when the blind receive their sight, when the oppressed are liberated, who can withhold the shout of jubilee? In the Old Testament all the social stipulations of the year of Jubilee – canceling all debts, releasing slaves, planting no crops, returning property to the original owner – were a celebration of the gracious provision of God. God could be trusted to provide what was needed. He had declared, “I will command my blessing upon you” (Lev. 25.21). Freedom from anxiety and care forms the basis for celebration. Because we know he cares for us, we can cast all our care upon him. God has turned our mourning into dancing.

~ Foster. Celebration of Discipline . p. 190-91.