Atom“Discipline = Strength = Faithfulness = Hope”
“Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly…but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I might not be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:25-27
Verses from the Bible can be helpful in many ways…sometimes even in practical ones…
Verses from the Bible can be helpful in many ways…sometimes even in practical ones. A week or so ago after spending some time with this reading from Corinthians (one of our weekly readings), I headed to the coffee pot for a refill. On my way back past the staff room, I spotted some brownies left over from an earlier meeting. They called to me, but so did the verse from Corinthians: “Athletes exercise self-control…I punish my body and enslave it…” Self-control, discipline…stay away from the brownies. Okay…good. I still haven’t worked off some of those Christmas goodies.
Then I sat down and picked up an article telling about Tom Osborne’s presentation at the Lutheran Men in Mission Conference in Omaha last summer. Tom Osborne is the legendary Nebraska football coach who lead his Cornhusker teams to three national championships in the 1990’s. He also served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives after retiring from coaching. What I always found most significant, however, when living in Nebraska, was that Tom was equally known as a Sunday School teacher who taught year after year at St. Mark’s Methodist Church in Lincoln. He was a great coach, but even more an inspirational leader in Christ’s Church. So whenever Tom has something to say, I am interested.
At last summer’s gathering he spoke of God’s amazing grace, but also spoke of the role of discipline in the life of a follower of Jesus:
“Every time that I’ve seen excellence in the athletic arena, discipline has been the backbone. Spiritually we want to be 400 pound bench pressers, and we only go into the weight room on Christmas and Easter. It doesn’t work that way. Think about the role of discipline in your life. I don’t care what it is – academics, music, and athletics. Without discipline you do not see the fruits of your endeavor. Discipline is critical. Regular worship, group worship, small group worship, Bible study, prayer, meditation – these are the things that will carry you forward.”
We all know it is true. When we see excellence or change it is rarely “accidental” or “happenstance.” It usually is the result of determined effort and practice. I have noted that with the changes I have seen in my son, Bryce’s physical growth the last two years. He is in a time of life where his body is changing and growing stronger somewhat naturally, but his size and strength has increased even more because he does sit-ups and push-ups every night and because he visits the weight room at the school or community center at least three times a week. This discipline is equipping him for whatever challenges he will face as an athlete.
The same is certainly true as Dr. Osborne said with regard to our spiritual life. Worship, Bible study, regular prayer, returning thanks through the sharing of our gifts all equip us for the challenges of every day living – for facing temptation or loss, for recognizing the Lord’s guiding hand leading us through a difficult time.
Let us help you with it…as we enter the Lenten season, we will engage once again in regular “training sessions,” in worship and prayer and ways of serving our community and congregation as Jesus has served us. But best of all, in the season of Lent we focus not only on our own discipline, but recognize the discipline of Jesus – his preparation and prayer life – that carried him through temptation to the cross and to the empty tomb so that we might know the helping hand of God when our own discipline is halting and inadequate. Thanks be to God for Jesus who has not only prepared the way who but also runs beside us, that we might be faithful even when our own self- discipline falls short!
In training with you,
Pastor Wade
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