I’m pretty sure if you locked me in a room for the rest of my life I would never get bored. My mind goes about a-million-miles an hour, and I have a rare talent of visiting far-off dreams without ever leaving my seat. If my mind goes that crazy locked in a room, you can only imagine how restless my mind gets when the weather is nice outside. In these days of summer, I’m struggling to be disciplined.
A friend once said to me, “Discipline is delayed gratification.” He was right, if I will just discipline myself now, I will be able to more fully relish in the joys of later. This can be practically applied to work, studies, sports training or even more greatly – our walk with Christ.
I think that’s what Paul was getting at in 1 Corinthians 9:27, “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” When he speaks of disciplining his body and keeping it under control, he is saying that I pummel my body – making it my slave not allowing it to do whatever I feel like, but staying committed to the larger task at hand – glorifying God.
I’m sure that Paul used this term “disqualified” with the Greek games in mind. At the Greek games, a herald announced the rules of the contest, the names of the contestants, and the names and cities of the winners. He would also announce the names of any contestants who were disqualified. Paul was saying making it clear that he didn’t want his name to be (metaphorically) on the “disqualified list” – and I sure don’t either!
I once heard Henry Blackaby talk about the relationship that we have with God and its wearisome state at times. He said we must remember, “Love is the disciple.” He is right; we don’t push through to do our best so that we can be the best, we do it so we can work out our faith in love for our Lord! It is because of my love for God that I must be disciplined.
“And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments; … Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” 2 John 6, 8-9
Press on. We can make it. We’ll fight the summer plague of distraction and apathy. Remember, do your very best today for today is all you’re promised. Tomorrow will take care of itself – Matthew 6:34.
What do you do in your life that requires a great amount of discipline? How do you keep your discipline in that area?
