Ephesians Chapter 4 and Spiritual Disciplines

As an annual remembrance of the significance of Easter comes around, many people begin to speak about the season leading-up to Easter called 'Lent'.  Often we will hear a friend or neighbour ask a question something like: 'What are you giving-up for Lent'?

In the Christian church since the reformation, there is a recognisable resistance to religious acts that claim to bring reward or benefit.  After all, the bible does teach in the Letter to the Ephesians: "we are saved by grace through faith and not by works."

And yet James admonishes us to live out what we believe, to live differently because of faith, when he writes: "...be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

What is the significance of exercising any practical discipline in the pursuit of a spiritual goal?  Is there any realistic benefit, spiritually, to our efforts to live life a certain way?

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6