I Corinthians 9: 24-27      Discipline        March 25, 2007

      How many of you have ever made New Year’s resolutions?   That’s great.  How many of you have ever failed in your New Year’s resolutions?  Why is that?  It is possible to have convictions, make definite commitments, decide to take a course of action, and yet fail to achieve the goal.  I have heard it said that almost everyone has had an idea in the morning shower that could make them into a millionaire.  But most of us leave the shower, dry off, and never pursue the idea.  The difference in success is a matter taking action.  And not just a one time action, but a day after day after day discipline of taking action. 

      We are nearing the end of the Lenten season.  It is a time of self discipline and a seeking after holiness in our lives.  Today, as we continue to talk about a life of holiness, I want to emphasize the necessity of discipline.  The concept of discipline is suspected in our society.  It runs counter to our ideas of freedom.  But a great life only happens by self discipline.  One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, your children, and grandchildren is to live and teach self discipline. 

     Throughout the New Testament, Paul uses the image of athletics to talk about the discipline of the Christian life.  I have these weights here this morning to help us think about discipline.  Coach Schrader has some young men competing in a weight lifting contest.  They have worked long and hard, not just one day, but day after day.  To win at that level, your discipline encompasses all of your life—how you exercise, what you eat, getting enough sleep.  It is a full commitment.  Half way measures will not bring success.  The same is true if we wish to seek holiness—a life following Christ.

      So what is our training for holiness?  If you hope to hear me give you some new fangled method that will make greatness happen in your life, I am afraid you will be disappointed.  Holiness happens as we discipline ourselves first on the Word of God.  II Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is inspired and is useful for teaching, correcting, and training in righteousness.”  Notice that last item.  Training in righteousness.  The Word of God trains us in right living.  This is what the scriptures will do for us when we take in a steady diet of the Word. 

     Now Satan and your own lower nature will battle you on this point all the way.  We are too sleepy in the morning, too busy in the day, and too tired at night.  There seems never to be a suitable time to train in the Word.  It requires discipline.  Perhaps we get up thirty minutes earlier.  Perhaps we skip lunch with our co-workers and instead read the Bible and pray.  Perhaps we skip that last TV program at night.  But without a prayerful intake of the Word on a very regular basis, we will never live a Holy life.  God trains us and changes us as we read the Word and pray over it and apply it to our lives.    

     Now we need to read the Bible correctly to gain its full benefits.  We do not read the Bible to gain information for our brains.  We read the Bible to discover transformation for our lives.  I do not read a passage in the Bible and then think, “Okay, I know that story.”  No.  I read the Bible as if I were breathing in the very breath of God.  I read the Word as if were a fine meal that I will taste deeply.  I read the Bible in a meditative manner and then I seek to apply it to my life.  The deeper we dig into the Word in our own private devotional time, in group Bible studies, and in the worship hour, we will find our lives slowly, progressively changed. 

One of the best ways to discipline yourself in God’s Word is to memorize scriptures.  In years past, churches used to have children memorize verses and play games to help in that process.  We seem to have forgotten the power of that process.  I plan to do some sermon series as this year proceeds and have scripture verses in the bulletin which can be memorized.  But you need not wait on me.  Navigators Press publishes a package called “The Topical Memory System” which can greatly aid you with cards to memorize scripture.  As you study the Word, memorize the Word, and apply it to your life, you will see real changes take place. 

  Now you need to know that any training in discipline—mental, physical, or spiritual—is at first filled with failure.  The weight lifter cannot at first lift that much weight.  He will feel that he will never reach his goal.  The champion swimmer will fail at first and feel that she will never gain speed.  The young financial investor will not at first hold many stocks.  But time is the secret of those who practice discipline.  You cannot see your success quickly or easily, but drop by drop, day by day, a disciplined life will bring us to success.  What really is a life of discipline?  It is simply a life of delayed gratification.  It is refusing to grab what is lowly and easy, and instead, reaching for something higher that we cannot see today.  One young person in his twenties will always decide to spend his money today on what he sees right now--that new shirt, that new car, or that cup of coffee.  But the disciplined young person will keep her money, invest it where it cannot easily be seen, and become wealthy in the long run.  A life of holiness will give up some sleep or some TV which is easy to grab right now. And instead, will spend time in the Word of God which will bring tremendous long term benefits.

    When I was in college, a mentor gave me a recently published book which had tremendous benefits on my life.  It was titled “The Celebration of Discipline” by Richard Foster.  After twenty-five years, it has become a classic in learning how to live the Christian life.  I wish I could say that I have always followed that book perfectly.  I wish I could say that I always get up when I should, do what is right, reach for what is higher.  I do not always live that celebration of discipline.  But I have absolutely seen that it is the path to a higher life.  Almost every good, higher, stronger, better thing in my life has come because of discipline.  And where I have failed the most, it is almost always due to my failure of discipline.  But I confess my sins to God, and I press on for that higher prize.  That is what Paul said was his own goal.  To run the race so as to win the prize.  Amen.