I am not an athlete, never been, not likely that I ever will be. I could be but I lack the motivation to train, thus I condemn myself to only being a spectator. Recently I read the story of a middle-aged man, much like myself, who decided that he would run a marathon after seeing his daughter finish one. He was out of shape, had never even jogged, much less done something as rigorous as running a 23 mile race. But he was inspired by his daughter's achievement and wanted to match it. He began with a mile run. He felt like his chest was going to explode, like he was going to die halfway through that first run. Six months later, he finished a marathon! How did he do it? Daily training- running, conditioning, eating healthy foods, getting rest. Practice made perfect! We usually think of the word 'perfect' as meaning flawless, but in that context it means 'complete.' He was able to do what he intended to do because he trained his body in daily disciplined exercise.
The Christian life is a process that is a lot like preparing for a long distance run! We 'ooh' and 'aah' over the stories about great Believers whose lives are well-lived, examples of faith, and productive in terms of making a Kingdom difference in the world. In the same breath, many of us say, "I wish I could do that" but we really don't mean it. Here's how I know that many believers do not really intend to become great Christians. They don't do the daily disciplines, practice the habits that create the maturity of spirit and character, that lead to greatness. Said practically, if a person will not make the choices to get to worship faithfully, to contribute a portion of his income to God, to participate in some kind of unselfish service regularly, to meditate and pray each day - he's as incapable of doing great things for God as I am to run a marathon today! Some small part of me would like to run a marathon, too, but it's not going to happen unless I get off of my behind, pull on those running shoes, and get on the road! God has given us daily disciplines to build endurance and maturity in us. Those disciplines pattern us and enable us to live mature and complete lives, full of the Spirit, that defeat the Evil One, that create loving spaces in a hate filled world, and that cause others to say, "God be praised!"
Some people miss the point entirely of spiritual disciplines. They begin to worship the disciplines, rather than the Lord. Instead of understanding that the disciplines are just the means of opening up clear channels through which the Holy Spirit works to create maturity and power, they think that the disciplines themselves are the power! These misguided ones become like the guy who keeps training, but never enters the competition. Why train if you're not going to compete?
Ask God to give you a goal that's bigger than your present abilities, an 'impossible' vision. Then pray for the wisdom and courage to start small, to practice until you're matured, completed, enabled to do what that thing that you could only dream about before your training began. At the end of that race, there is a reward that is eternal, that does not tarnish, that no one can eclipse, or take away.
How are you living your life - for today, or for eternity?
Have you set your sights on God's home, on finishing well;
or are you seeking to be comfortable today, to satisfy the demands and desires that arise in you right now?
Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion.
Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please!
Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so,
making you fit both today and forever.
You can count on this. Take it to heart. 1 Timothy 4:7-9 (The Message)
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