Into Training
“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get
a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown what will last forever.”
Athletic competition of every kind and at every level, from high school sports to the current World Cup being played in South Africa, provides insight into the training and discipline required to be successful in any sphere of life. It is the type of training the apostle Paul was referring to in the above scripture when he wrote about each one of us developing personal discipline as we seek to run the race the Lord has set out for our lives. We will see that personal discipline, that which goes on out of sight of others, is critical to our finding success in life.
Going to the Buick Open in Warwick Hills during the summer in recent years showed a side of professional golfers that is not always seen on television. Walking past the driving range you would find it filled with golfers practicing shot after shot, trying to perfect their swing or to correct any flaws that might have developed. Some were out there before their round of golf while others had come back after playing in the tournament, all with the goal of improving what they were doing and being the best they could be at their chosen profession. And outside the clubhouse, away from the reporters’ microphones and the television cameras, the same was happening on the practice green; put after put was being taken to develop a rhythm and a discipline that could earn them a good sized paycheck at the end of the tournament.
We could talk about every sport and activity and look at the training involved and the discipline required for success. From the actor rehearsing lines before a play to the softball player going to the batting cages at Barrymores, we would find that the level of commitment to training and the degree of personal discipline are crucial determiners of success no matter what the endeavor or field. Before the whistle blows, the curtain drops, the anthem is played, or the service begins, much of what goes into determining what will be accomplished has already occurred, behind the scenes and out of sight yes, unimportant and trivial not in the least.
Paul took concepts that people of every generation could relate to and compared them to the personal discipline that is required in the Christian life. The work of changing the world for Christ really begins in our private devotional time behind closed doors, when we are meditating on the Word of God and seeking God in prayer. The quest to discover all God has for your life won’t occur in the pew at church; most likely it will take place in your bedroom or study, during a peaceful walk or on your knees in prayer. Paul opens up and says “I discipline my body”. If he hoped to make a difference, he knew that he had to develop personal discipline just like you and I do. Take a moment to realistically ask what personal disciplines are key to your excelling in your heart’s desire. And make that training your new priority!
God Bless
Pastor Joe
Gateway Church
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