Embrace
Discipline!
Have
you ever focused on a runner’s face as he crosses the finish line?
In one moment the sacrifice of hard training is surpassed by
incredible joy. He has reached his goal. Does he stop at this point?
No. Not only must he remain in shape for the next race, but he must
train for different hardships the next race presents. To finish the
next race he is ready to embrace discipline once more. The joy of
accomplishment surpasses the cost of any sacrifice.
Our spiritual lives are the same. Without spiritual
training in righteousness we will not know the joy of crossing the
finish line. Spiritual training involves throwing off everything that
deters us from the goal. We run the race with perseverance when we
determine to be pushed to the limit (Hebrews 12:1).
The
only way to run the race with endurance is to focus every spiritual
muscle upon Jesus Christ. The race began the moment he breathed
spiritual life into us, and continues until the finish life of
eternal life is reached. The little joys of sacrifice along the way
are what carry us to the joy crossing the final finish line brings.
We
realize the joy of personal sacrifice when we understand the great
cost of His sacrifice. He endured the cross because of the joy that
was to come. He endured the pain for the joy of resurrection. Yet in
the moment of personal trial we forget He paid the ultimate price,
and in the struggle we forget He is there to help us carry the load.
We miss the opportunity to grow because our eyes are not fixed upon
Him but upon our problem (Hebrews 12:2).
When
you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you are adopted by
God as His child. Because He loves you as a heavenly father, God
disciplines you and tells you not to lose heart or become discouraged
(Hebrews 12:5). When we understand who we are in Christ, we know Him
as a loving father who only has our welfare at heart. We know the
hardships we face are meant to create a stronger bond with Him, so we
look for the lesson in them. (Roman 8:28). God pushes us to the limit
for our own welfare, and for no other reason.
This
Truth is only discovered when we embrace disciple.
We
embrace that which we love. We hold it close to our heart. Such love
has the power to hurt terribly or bring incredible joy. If we love
Jesus we embrace His training during good and bad times. It means
that we understand its eternal value in our lives. We discover
incredible spiritual joy when we allow the Lord to reveal the good
that comes from a hardship.
Jesus
Christ urges us to finish our race, and to finish it well. Often we
don’t hear His voice because we are not willing to embrace His
discipline. If we really loved Him we would embrace the hardship that
comes and hold on to it until the lesson has spurred us to greater
faith in Him.
You
are running a spiritual marathon. Life is the race. The problems of
life pull the breath out of you, but you are seeking the second wind
of His Spirit. The Lord runs beside you coaching you on to greater
heights. Each pounding step helps you understand a little more of the
cost of His sacrifice.
Embrace
the discipline that comes through hardship. Love it for the lesson
and training in righteousness that it brings. Look to Him who is the
author and the finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2). He is the one
who carries you through the race of life, and who will complete the
good work in you (Philippians 1:6).
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