I am working my way through Thomas Merton’s Seven Storey Mountain again. I am not good at re-reading many books, but this one I’ve ready probably 5 times. It is his story of coming to faith and entering the monastery as a Cistercian brother.
As he came to faith, he struggled his first year. He was a PhD student at Columbia in 1938-39. He was learning about following Christ. The comparison he offered was Israel coming out of Egypt and moving into the promised land. God has called us to a new land and it’s a different place. We can’t act like we’re in Egypt anymore.
You can no longer live here as you did there (in Egypt). Your old life and your former ways are crucified now, and you must not seek to live anymore for your own gratification, but give up your own judgment into the hands of a wise director, and sacrifice your pleasures and comforts for the love of God and give the money you no longer spend on those things, to the poor.
Above all, eat your Daily Bread without which you cannot live, and come to know Christ Whose Life feed you…
We can’t insist on living like Egypt in the Promised Land. We have a new life given to us. The rules have changed, and they have changed for the good. No more thinking like a slave. Live free in Christ.
Apprentice 2 Jesus 
that is a great comparison! are you familiar it the theology of the second exodus?
I have heard the terminology, but that’s the extent of my feeble knowledge.
also, have you read any of nowen? out of solitude is a pretty heavy book though quite small as is his book way of the heart and wounded healer.
i need to do more spiritual reading.
I have loved Henri Nouwen’s work. In particular, “The Way of the Heart” and “In the Name of Jesus.” That second book NEEDS to be read by every A/G minister. We are getting so pragmatic in our ministry training, we need this reminder!
Well, I learned about the theology of the second exodus from Dr. Ben Aker at AGTS and this post reflects my basic understanding of it from being in serval of his classes: http://sunestauromai.wordpress.com/2008/07/17/theology-of-the-second-exodus/
I haven’t read In the Name of Jesus yet, just the three I mentioned. I’ll have to get the other one.
Great post. Thanks for sharing it!
I recommend Henri Nouwen’s The Wounded Healer and also his The Return of the Prodigal Son – both an easy read and with powerful messages.