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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 my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. (NASB)
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The apostle Paul would write to Timothy and to us, “for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” {1Tim.4:8} “Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.” {2Tim.2:5} There are always rules!

God desires that we be disciplined, not beaten, though sometimes chastised, but always being trained in righteousness—not with a whip, but with His Word. {2Tim.3:16} As it says in the letter to the Hebrews, “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” {Heb.12:11} That is our Father’s godly discipline with His disciples, His sons and daughters.

The word discipline comes from the Latin word ‘discipulus’ meaning “student.” We are not to just follow Jesus, as disciples we must learn from Him with a desire to be like Him! He said, ‘Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’ {Mat.11:29} That discipline is obviously lacking in the world around us today and all too often missing in the church too!

We need to heed the wisdom of King Solomon who wrote, “My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord or loathe His reproof, for whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.” {Prov.3:11-12} We should look at the prayer of David, a man after God’s own heart and significant in the lineage of Jesus as noted in the opening verse of Matthew’s gospel. {Mat.1:1} David prayed “Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; It is oil upon the head; Do not let my head refuse it, For still my prayer is against their wicked deeds.” {Ps.141:5}

The Lord disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. {Heb.12:10} The goal is to ‘be holy even as He is holy’. {1Pt.1:15} “Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.” {Deut.4:9}

So, like David, a man after God’s own heart, let us join with him in praying:

“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who do iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies. Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; It is oil upon the head; Do not let my head refuse it…” (Psalms 141:3-5)

TEST EVERYTHING BY GOD’S WORD