Disciplined in Training
READ
Let’s face it: living as a disciple of Christ is no walk in the park. In his letter to the church in Corinth, the apostle Paul compares the Christian life to a race—a life-long marathon toward our heavenly home. Like a long-distance run, following Christ requires steady, disciplined effort as we learn to love God and our neighbors more than ourselves. Though following Him is the greatest joy we can be afforded in this life, it also demands our focus, sacrifice, and dedication. It requires us to habitually sacrifice our comfort and convenience in order to serve Him and His children well.
However, our effort is never in vain. When we faithfully follow Christ, we can pass from this life knowing that we lived well. The prize awaiting us cannot be taken away: the Father Himself welcoming us home with the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).
Let’s take a moment to read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27:
Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 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.
REFLECT
In our scripture today, Paul contrasts the eternal reward of following Christ to the temporary glory that comes with winning earthly competitions. Though his metaphor can be easily misconstrued, Paul is not implying that we must earn our salvation through grit, willpower, or perfect devotion to Christ. Salvation is a gift we receive, not a prize we earn (Ephesians 2:9). Rather, Paul is reminding us that surrendering our lives to God is infinitely more profitable than any prize we can win in this life. Dedicating our lives to Him reaps rewards that never fade or decay. There are everlasting spiritual benefits when we uplift the marginalized, speak for the voiceless, encourage the weary, and love our enemies.
Paul’s comparison is sobering. If we are willing to endure pain to train for marathons and 5ks, why aren’t we willing to tolerate discomfort to glorify the God of all creation? If we finish a foot race, we might get a medal or garner praise on social media. But if we love God and follow Him earnestly, we get to experience the joys of heaven. More than that, we allow others to encounter the Divine through our words and actions.
If we want to spread the Gospel effectively, we must follow God diligently. Paul cautions that without faithfully committing ourselves to Christ’s commands, we risk “disqualifying” ourselves from “preaching to others.” When we proclaim that God has set us free from sin yet continue to live in bondage to it, our lives contradict our words.
We will never be perfect disciples of Christ. However, we must do all that we can to represent Him well. Nonbelievers are often jaded and disillusioned when they witness Christians being selfish, rude, greedy, and unforgiving. The Gospel message becomes all the more irresistible to others when they witness us living a radically different kind of life. Christ is made visible and tangible when we make a daily practice of giving, hoping, serving, forgiving, and rejoicing. The Gospel is preached through our lives when we make an earnest effort to imitate our Savior and Lord in all our ways.
RESPOND
Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.
In which areas of your spiritual life do you need to practice more discipline?
What would it look like for you to devote yourself more fully to following Christ?
REST
Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:
Father, thank You for saving me. Thank You for granting me an eternal reward that I could never earn or deserve. Lord, in response to all You’ve given me, help me to entrust my life to You. Help me to follow You diligently, so that I might glorify You. Make me obedient to You, so that those around me might encounter You and enter into Your joy. I love You and thank You for this race I get to run, this life I get to navigate with You. I know the finish line: Your loving embrace. Help me to run with all that I am. Amen.
Port City writer Kate Redenbaugh wrote today’s devotional.