quote for today

sorry about falling behind. here's a quote from richard foster's celebration of discipline (which we're going through as a home group right now). this week, we're covering the chapter on submission. as always, foster, seems to come at it from a very sincere angle--not trying to convince anyone that he has some intellectual new-ground to cover, but focusing on the practice of the particular discipline. there's so much meaty stuff here...i wish i could quote the whole thing. but you're better off buying the book and/or study guides and going through them yourself. ______ "The biblical teaching on submission focuses primarily on the spirit with which we view other people. Scripture does not attempt to set forth a series of hierarchical relationships but to communicate to us an inner attitude of mutual subordination. ... Outwardly we can do what people ask and inwardly be in rebellion against them. This concern for a spirit of consideration toward others pervades the entire NT. The old covenant stipulated that we must not murder. Jesus, however, stressed that the real issue was the inner spirit of murder with which we view people. In the matter of submission the same is true; the real issue is the spirit of consideration and respect we have for each other. "In submission we are at last free to value other people. Their dreams and plans become important to us. We have entered into a new, wonderful, glorious freedom--the freedom to give up our own rights for the good of others. For the first time we can love people unconditionally. We have given up the right to demand that they return our love. No longer do we feel that we have to be treated in a certain way. We rejoice in their successes. We feel genuine sorrow in their failures. It is of little consequence that our plans are frustrated if their plans succeed. We discover that it is far better to serve our neighbor than to have our own way. "Do you know the liberation that comes from giving up your rights? It means you are set free from the seething anger and bitterness you feel when someone doesn't act toward you the way you think they should. It means that at last you are able to break that vicious law of commerce that says, 'You scratch my back, I'll scratch your back; you bloody my nose, I'll bloody your nose.' It means you are free to obey Jesus' command, 'Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you' (Matt. 5:44). It means that for the first time you understand how it is possible to surrender the right to retaliate: 'If any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also' (Matt. 5:39)." --Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline (1978, rev. 1988). pp. 112-113.