Personal discipline is the indispensable key for accomplishing anything in this life.
Take for example Winston Churchill. This man was proclaimed as the speaker of the century by some. The truth about Churchill is the fact that he had a distracting lisp which made him the butt of many jokes and resulted in his inability to be spontaneous in public speaking. Yet he became famous for his speeches and his seemingly impromptu remarks.
He mastered his speeches by writing everything out and practicing it! To the point where he even paused for laughter and paused as if he were looking for the right phrase. Churchill would practice endlessly in front of a mirror, fashioning his retorts and facial expressions. It was said that he had spent the best years of his life writing impromptu speeches. A natural? Perhaps. A naturally disciplined hard working man!
We will never get anywhere in life without discipline, be it in the arts, business, athletics, or academics. This is doubly so in spiritual matters.
In 1 Timothy 4:7 it says "train yourself to be godly." The word "train" comes from the word gummos, which means "naked" and it is the word from which we derive our English word gymnasium. In the traditional Greek athletic contests, the participants competed without clothing, to eliminate being encumbered. Therefore, the word "train" originally carried the literal meaning, "to exercise naked. By New Testament times it referred to exercise and training in general. Even then it was a word with the smell of the gym in it - the sweat of a good workout. "Gymnasticize(exercise, work out, train) your-self for the purpose of godliness" conveys the feel of what Paul is saying in Timothy.
Therefore, he is calling for some spiritual sweat! Just as the athletes discarded everything and competed Gumnos - free from everything that could possibly burden them - so we must get rid of every encumbrance, every association, habit, and tendency which impedes godliness. If we are to excel, we must strip ourselves to a lean, spiritual nakedness.
I myself, have a long ways to go!
I like this Mark and I agree with you. I think that if we are living an UnGodly way and trying not to let ourselves "Sweat" its because we dont feel like changing. We are so used to the way we are living and sometimes people dont want (like) change. Its like a pattern a circle in our lives. Its something you just are used to doing over and over. The Habits and Tendencies in our lives that make us feel good seem much more easier to do than breaking out in a sweat. I think that if we all did free ourselves of our Burdens and Troubles and really work up that Spiritual Sweat just Try it we just might like it..I also have a way to go, and I know of others I care about that do too and maybe if they see how I am doing they just might want to Workout With Me..Great Post Mark..I am lucky to know you. Becky Tovar
ReplyDeleteLoved your message Mark. I've always procrastinated about exercise and haven't spent much time in gymnasiums but your article is enticing to me. I think I'll take a walk today and work up a sweat!!! I never realized that doing that is discipline and it can bring me closer to God. Thank you for sharing. You are a blessing to me and my family. Claudia Nepley
ReplyDeleteThank you! You both are very encouraging and I thank you so much for your support with Life Coach Ministry and your prayers.
ReplyDeleteIt is funny how encouraging you both are...I hope you know each other! If not, you need to make time to get to know each other.
Blessings,
Mark