Playing With Pain
“For physical training
is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for
both the present life and the life to come.” 1
Timothy 4:8.
In the 1950’s, Vince Lombardi served
as the New York
Giants’ Defensive Coordinator, while Tom Landry was the Giant’s Offensive
Coordinator under Coach Jim Lee Howell. Jim Lee Howell
was one lesser-known coach that reproduced two greater-known coaches. Vince and
Tom’s tandem talents, along with their mentor, led the Giants to the highest
level of playing including the World Championship. It is understandable, considering what they
learned that both would attain two Super Bowl Championships apiece in the next
few decades in the NFL. Both would learn
to help their players play with pain.
In an issue
of The Christian Standard, Wayne
Smith wrote an article entitled, “Playing
Hurt.” One of the biggest lessons we
have to learn in life was a great article that mirrored professional football
players with the Christian, about how we get hurt through the game of life, but
how we must keep going. It is from the word “disciple” that we get the word
“discipline.”
Athletes learn very
early that the games they play can bring great pain, requiring that they press
through, even when it hurts. Sometimes it’s a broken finger and other
times it’s a broken arm or rib. Whatever
the case, they discipline themselves to press through the pain in order to
accomplish the task. It is no different
in being a spouse, parent, or in areas of our profession. It is in
discipline and self-control that we are able to accomplish our goals and
its never easy.
Someone said, “Opportunity
may only knock once but temptation leans on the doorbell.”
We’re always being tempted to be brought into the old, to live in the
wicked, to live by the flesh, and Peter knows this. This is why he gives us such strong words in 1 Peter 1:13. “So
roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the
gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives.”
There are five disciplines to practice in the
Christian life which prepare us for the most difficult times of life:
#1-Discipline of Love (John 15:12)
When it comes to discipline, love
one another. The discipline of love has
benefit in every area, including our relationship with God and others.
#2- Discipline your Tongue (James 3:6)
The tongue is the strongest
muscle in the body, possibly “because it is working out so much,” someone said.
James 3:6
says, “The tongue also is a fire, a world
of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the
whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” It
can hurt or heal, depending on the control. Pray for God’s help to find victory
through the words that we speak and the impact that we make.
#3-Discipline your Mind (Romans 12:2)
Paul writes in Romans 12:2
to “be transformed by the renewing of the
mind.” Whatever fills our mind will
train our minds.
#4-Discipline in the Word (Psalm
119:1-176)
Pray for God to place within
you a hunger for His Word. We need to
know God’s Word because God will use it to bring wisdom to touch our
world. Paul wrote, “Study to show yourself approved unto God…a workman that needeth not to
be ashamed.”
#5-Discipline in Prayer (1
Thessalonians 5:18)
In the second shortest verse in the Bible
(after John 11:35,
“Jesus wept”), Paul challenges us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to “pray continually” as a means to
strengthen our lives, which brings God’s power in any and every situation.
“For
physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things,
holding promise for both the present life and the life to come,” shared Paul, with his young student
Timothy. In other words, put faith above
everything else.
Vince Lombardi once said, "I firmly believe that any man’s finest
hour--his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear--is that moment when he has
worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of
battle--victorious." While
Christ DID and will DO His part, He has called us to do ours. And in the end, though life can be
exhausting, you will find victory in Christ.
Terry Risser
Reflections:
1) As a “Disciple,” which discipline
above does Christ want to strengthen in you?
2) Invite God to saturate you with His
strength to find victory today.
Consider reading the Word today:
Copyright
2014- Terry Risser
No comments:
Post a Comment