Discipline

"Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline by body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." --1 Corinthians 9:26-27 (NASB)

Ah yes. Discipline. A favorite subject of many, but generally abhorred by most. Though the term is becoming antiquated today, discipline is still an expectation that God has set before us as Christians. In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul explains that he is careful with his liberty in Christ and works to exercise discipline and self control as he strives toward the imperishable reward of heaven that is found in Jesus.

Yes we have liberty in Christ, and through Christ all of our sins are forgiven. However, this does not mean that we have a free ticket to continue in sin. "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from teh dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life." --Romans 5:1-4 (NASB)

Through Christ we receive a new life and are a new creation, given a testimony and witness to share with a lost and dying world. As Paul points out in his letter to the Corinthians though, we must discipline ourselves and our bodies so that we do not stumble in such a manner that we disqualify ourselves from ministry.

A few months ago this verse stuck out to me, and I have told a few people that this is going to be my seminary verse. It is a challenge to all seminary students but to all Christians as well. My prayer is that you will make this verse applicable in your life as well. And trust me when I say this, I have a lot of work to do! I am not condemning anyone or judging anyone in any way. I will admit that I have plenty of room to go. Will you go along as well and discipline yourself as a Christian? "...but I discipline by body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." --1 Corinthians 9:27 (NASB)