1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone 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 that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Just a couple of weeks ago the Green Bay packers started off on their training camp. Just a few weeks after football season started with the preseason games. Yet for many of these athletes their work didn’t start when training camp began. In fact, many of them most likely kept up with some form of training even in the off season, knowing that in not doing so, they would lose some the abilities that they had during the last season. They must keep a form of self-discipline in order to be the athlete that they want to be. Yet when it comes to our faith are we willing to have the self-discipline needed to have a stronger faith? Are we willing to do the work?
I know setting up new routines or even just trying to start something new can be hard, but when it comes to our faith we should be willing to work on our self-discipline. We should be going into the word, without the need of a class to make us do so. We should be willing to pray, without having to be in a group of believers. There is a lot of things that we as Christians should be doing, but our lack of self-discipline makes it so that we never even try. Yet we feel the call from God to pick of the torch and start training. The question is are you willing to grow and pray for more self-discipline to get you there.
~Pastor Jillian