For Your Own Good
1 Corinthians 9:25-27 “All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.”
Paul’s words here to us stress the necessity of self discipline, and self denial in order to grow and mature as Christians. Our Christian “LIBERTIES” have limits! God has certain expectations of us as his children. Just like we have certain expectations with our own children. In verse 27 Paul speaks of disciplining his body “like an athlete”, another translation says it this way… “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection”! Notice it says I discipline my body like an athlete training my body to do what it should. That means there’s a part that we have, there’s an expected responsibility as a child of God to live a disciplined lifestyle. As parents we do our best to train our children in self-discipline, moderation, and the hearing of “no” “for their own good”. Here’s the key… When we do this, it is the wisdom that we have as parents that it is “for their own good”. It’s the same with God and us as his children. There are times where he says no! There are times where He wants you to remove things from your life! There are times where he wants you to add things to your life! He is not trying to be a harsh or mean Father. He is molding and refining in order to create character!!! So if you find that God is speaking to you about certain disciplines adding, removing, or adjusting… Understand it’s “FOR YOUR OWN GOOD”! Are you listening???
