Some will read the title for today’s devotion and immediately turn away. Self-discipline is a character trait we all need. As I write this, I am well aware of my needs in this area. For months I’ve been talking about losing weight and getting healthier by changing my eating habits. The problem, it’s mostly talk. I will have good intentions at the beginning of the day but by the end, I’ve forgotten all about it. I love to bake, cook, try new recipes, and have people over for a meal. Those are not good combinations for a strict diet. Like most every change we make in our lives we want a quick fix. We live in an instant world, and we expect things to happen fast. We like things that require little discipline. Yet, that is contrary to the word of God. To be a good disciple of Jesus Christ we must have discipline in our lives. We must train ourselves to deny anything in our lives that will hinder our growth as a Christian.
Paul makes it clear in I Corinthians 9:24-27 that we are to be a people who are disciplined. Because we have a sinful nature, even after we are saved, self becomes our greatest enemy. In Romans chapter 7, Paul is addressing the issue of wanting to do what is godly, yet often the flesh wins. The only way to overcome giving in to the desires of the flesh is to discipline ourselves to stay focused on pleasing God. We must exercise self-discipline to seek after God until we have crucified the flesh in areas of temptation. However, I have found that the temptations that I, through the power of Christ, overcome today, will not be the temptations of tomorrow. Satan watches us and knows our weaknesses and he will use those when we are vulnerable.
Romans 7:18-19 “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” (ESV)
In I Corinthians 9:24-27 Paul uses the example of a runner to teach us about self-discipline. Paul had learned to keep himself in subjection. He knew that his own flesh was his greatest enemy.
I Corinthians 9:24-27 “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one received the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate (exercises self-control) in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so, fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
If we succeed in our quest to please Christ and triumph over sin, we must learn to manage our “want to’s.” In verse 24 Paul notes we are to “run to obtain.” This sounds so simple. Everyone wants to win, or they wouldn’t run a race, right? Wrong, I have known many who wanted to run a race just to say they did it. They had no intention of running to win. They did not train to win, therefore they lost. In the Christian race to win over sin, we must give all instead of going through the motions. Many who proclaim the name of Christ have a desire to go to Heaven, but no passion to give God their best. They want to take the easy, comfortable route without resistance. They do not love Christ more than they love their own comfort. If we are to make sure we reach the finish line, we must be compelled to succeed!
In verse 25, the word temperate means to exercise self-control, to be disciplined. This is what we need the most, but want the least! If we are to be disciplined, we must plan a course of action that will help us to succeed. We must not go to places where we will be tempted, be around people who indulge in the things we are trying to overcome or allow our minds to dwell on areas of temptation. For instance, if I am trying to lose weight, I need to remove the foods that tempt me to cheat on my diet. I don’t go out to eat where there are foods that I love that are not good for me!
We must also stay on course. If you want to win the race you must run toward the finish line. Many are running the race of life fast, but they are running in the wrong direction. We must keep our focus. We must determine that we will remove distractions. These are things that prohibit our time with God’s word. Lack of sleep hinders many from rising early to meet with God. Yes, I said early. I know all the excuses why this is not possible, but they are merely excuses. I know you can read and study at other times, but only the first part of the day allows you to view your day from God’s perspective. Many study at night after a long day. They read for 15 minutes and become sleepy, they go to sleep and rise in just enough time to get themselves ready for work. They dress, feed the kids, and head out the door. Their mind is far from what they read the night before. Therefore, failure is inevitable. If we are to be at our best each day, we need to have an unobstructed vision of our approach to our day. We need to back up and look at the big picture, envision the finish line, and push forward with the strength gained from our morning time with God. For Christians, our vision is a glorious picture we should keep in mind. The picture of entering Heaven and seeing Jesus for the first time. The picture of glory that will never end. If we want to hear Him say, “Well done,” we must stay on course.
There must be a commitment if we are to succeed in self-discipline. Our commitment must be to God, not our comfort zone. When we were youth leaders in Richmond, VA, each year, we would take our youth to a camp in North Carolina. Their motto was “ There are only two choices on the shelf, pleasing God or pleasing self.” This is a simple sentence, but it is packed with truth. If we are to win the race of life, we must be committed to the one who can give us eternal life. Our level of commitment determines our success in life. Paul did not want to be a castaway.
I challenge you today to make up your mind about who you will serve: your flesh or God! Stop making excuses for your lack of church attendance, Bible study, prayer time, and desire to live a holy, separated life. You can finish this life well, but it is your choice, and no one can make it for you.
Joshua 24:15 “And if it seems evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
