Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Attitude”
Our Bible verse for today: “Therefore I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “We need discipline and self-control.”
I don’t know if the Apostle Paul was an athlete but I do know that he loved to use sports metaphors. He compared the Christian life to a race to be run, a fight to be fought, and a training regime that must be engaged in if we are to live successfully and be victorious.
From what Paul described of himself in his writings, a picture emerges of a man who was disciplined and who strived to exercise self-control in his life. Those are attributes which are essential for every man or woman who desires to be the best person he or she can be.
Yesterday I wrote of how it is that God sees within you the person that you can be, and that He is in the process of molding and shaping you into that person. He progressively bringing out from within you the new, better, and improved you. But it’s not all up to Him. Each of us has a role to play in the transformation too. God works in partnership with us. He does His part but we must also do our part. We have to exercise discipline in all areas of our lives and do the things that need to be done in order to become the man or woman God wants us to be. And we also have to be self-controlled in order to avoid the things we need to avoid.
For instance, you cannot fill your mind with pornography, violent images, and profane song lyrics, and then expect God to transform you into a holy and righteous person who exalts Christ in your manner of living. You have to be disciplined and exercise self-control in those areas and then God will bring out the fruit of the Holy Spirit in you (Galatians 5:22-23).
Likewise, I would love to be able to live on a diet of ice cream, pizza, and chocolate, but have a healthy body that is slim, trim, and physically fit. Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way. I have to do my part to eat well and to exercise, and then I can reasonably ask God to help me stay healthy and fit. I cannot stuff myself with junk food and then expect God to magically make me look like Fabio.
Most of us need more discipline, structure, and self-control in our lives. I encourage you to consider the areas of your life that need to undergo some transformation and then consider what kinds of structure you can implement to help you become more disciplined and to have greater self-control. God will do His part in your transformation, but you also have to do our part.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 