Basic Doctrines


Daily Care for the Soul — Using the Physical to Learn the Spiritual

Jesus called his disciples from the common daily work as fisherman (Luk. 5:1-11). Using their daily occupation as a picture of what they would become, He said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Mat. 4:19). When the apostle Paul challenges husbands to love their wives he sets before them the highest ideal, “Just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Eph. 5:25). Such a high ideal would seem out of our reach and so Paul draws an illustration from daily life, “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies” (Eph. 5:28). As we meditate on this example we find that daily we feed the body, we cleanse it, we clothe it, we protect it and provide it rest. I have often used this illustration in weddings, to set before the new husband a practical goal which, if done daily, will help to achieve the greater goal of learning to love as Christ loved us.

It is often true that the greatest gains, both in physical and in spiritual life, can be found by practicing simple disciplines consistently, day by day. Small steps taken constantly get us farther along the path of progress than taking big steps at irregular intervals. So it is in the disciplines and practices of the spiritual life. It has been the authors experience in my own personal life to see both the benefits and blessings of practicing these basic daily disciplines, and also the disastrous effects when one or more are ignored. This little book is the result of having taught these lessons in various churches, primarily in remote village settings, in many parts of the world. It is with these simple and precious people in mind that this small volume is written. It has come into print due to their eager response, and at their urging.

Jesus made it clear to His disciples that the soul is of much greater value than the body (Mat. 10:28). What a shame it is that we spend so much time and effort in the care for the body, which will perish, yet give little thought to taking care of our eternal soul. If we would only begin by giving daily attention to the steps given in this book, we then might gain enough spiritual growth to go beyond, and to “lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of (us)” (Phi. 3:12). That is that we might come to know and to achieve His eternal purpose in our lives. If God is pleased that even one child of God be helped to this end through these lessons, this book will not have been written in vain. It is dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ who alone can transform sinful men and women into a reflection of His glory.



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