“I discipline my body and bring it into subjection.” (v.27)
The apostle Paul was serious about the gospel. He gave himself to the task of serving God with the same dedication that an athlete devotes to preparation for competition. While athletes train for a temporal prize, Paul endured tremendous hardship to win an eternal reward.
Although he had experienced several years of fruitful ministry, the apostle had every reason to quit. On five occasions he had felt the searing bite of 39 lashes as leather cords tore into his flesh (2 Cor. 11:24). He was also beaten, stoned, and shipwrecked, and he endured hunger, thirst, cold, and many other troubles (vv.25-27). Paul’s body must have rebelled each time he prepared to go to another place of service, but Paul made it his servant, and the servant of the gospel through discipline.
Just as a determined athlete beats his body into submission to win an earthly prize, so we must put ourselves through strict training each day (in God's Word), to prepare us for the challenges of defending the gospel, amid today's ever changing cultural views of the truth. That we may stand for righteousness against those who would persecute His Word and say all kind of evil against it.
May the LORD help us in our spiritual training to be discipline, that we may stand firm and defend His truths.
The Truth: "In your hearts revere Christ as LORD. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (1 Peter 3:15)
The apostle Paul was serious about the gospel. He gave himself to the task of serving God with the same dedication that an athlete devotes to preparation for competition. While athletes train for a temporal prize, Paul endured tremendous hardship to win an eternal reward.
Although he had experienced several years of fruitful ministry, the apostle had every reason to quit. On five occasions he had felt the searing bite of 39 lashes as leather cords tore into his flesh (2 Cor. 11:24). He was also beaten, stoned, and shipwrecked, and he endured hunger, thirst, cold, and many other troubles (vv.25-27). Paul’s body must have rebelled each time he prepared to go to another place of service, but Paul made it his servant, and the servant of the gospel through discipline.
Just as a determined athlete beats his body into submission to win an earthly prize, so we must put ourselves through strict training each day (in God's Word), to prepare us for the challenges of defending the gospel, amid today's ever changing cultural views of the truth. That we may stand for righteousness against those who would persecute His Word and say all kind of evil against it.
May the LORD help us in our spiritual training to be discipline, that we may stand firm and defend His truths.
The Truth: "In your hearts revere Christ as LORD. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (1 Peter 3:15)
