The uncertainly of the time humanity is living in
During the time in my life when I thought I had a close relationship with God, I expected my strict discipline to read, pray and study to show God how close I was to him. At the time, this was not a conscious thought, rather an unrevealed hope that my effort proved something—that I was close to God.
This is a dangerous place to me because you can completely miss God by “doing” so many things in the name of God. The religious leaders in Jesus’ day resembled this. They believed that their position in the religious order proved they were close to God. In reality, it only proved that they were good at rule-following. Rule-following has its place, but a close personal relationship with the godhead is about the heart over the discipline of “doing.”
I remember calling the Apostle Peter, “stick your foot in your mouth,” Peter. It seemed he was always speaking before thinking, always saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. Peter became one of twelve, then one of the three, and one of the authors of the Bible. Why do you think that is? Do you think Peter had excellent discipline, following all the rules and regulations? Or, do you think Peter had a heart so, given the follow Jesus, that Jesus could not ignore Peter?
Peter had a strong work ethic, as a fisherman, he had to have a particular discipline to stay in such a job, but I believe that Peter’s heart, not his discipline, brought him into a close personal relationship with Jesus.
This is what I mean about a relationship over discipline. I am not dismissing discipline, it is necessary, but I am emphasizing relationship as a vital part of growing close to God.
The show The Chosen opened my eyes to see the apostles in all their humanity; they were an eclectic group of men. Each of them brought something unique to the ministry of Jesus. The show depicts Matthew, the tax collector with high functioning autism, an exact (discipline in a different sense) person. He and Peter are polar opposites, yet the two and Jesus have a close personal relationship.