Discipline isn't much fun!

"Let's take a walk this evening," is an unwelcomed invitation to me, much like "how about getting a flu shot?" I know that the exercise would be beneficial to my health but in this one area I simply refuse to do the hard thing. My aversion to perspiration has nothing to do with inability. It is not a 'cannot,' it is a 'will not.' Every time that I choose not to take that walk with my lovely wife, it is a little easier to say, "No," the next time. A couple of Summers ago, when I made myself get up and go with her, each evening it became easier. I actually found that my physical condition improved to the point that I did not huff and puff on the hills! I think I remember that I enjoyed it, too.

A disciplined life has many rewards.

• A person who knows how to budget and control spending, actually finds himself with more discretionary funds! Instead of always paying off his credit cards (and the awful interest that goes with them) he is able to make more choices including more generosity.
• A person who regularly prays - both in good seasons as well as when tragedy lurks - enjoys the benefit of current conversation with God and the comfort of meeting a true Friend.
• A person who makes participation at his local church a priority even when the sun shines on the golf course builds a reservoir of relationships that pays great dividends when life hits reverse (and it will, sooner or later).

Real disciples must be willing to hard things. Jesus says things like: "Forgive those who do you wrong! Love your enemies! Practice your generosity without telling anybody. Live for Heaven, not just for your next meal. Deal with your own sin before you try to deal with that of others. Follow me!"  Other passages teach us to "Keep a tight rein on your words. Don't use filthy speech. Trust God when it's dark. Endure hardship. Give thanks always."  It is even possible to live like that? The Christian who is filled with Spirit, can answer, "Yes!"  Refusing to do what God says is not about 'can.'  It is about 'will.'  In Christ we are liberated from compulsion to sin. The Spirit frees us to choose life.

Here's a direct question. Pause to answer it honestly.

Will you do hard things that will let you become a holy, beautiful Christ-follower?

We cannot save ourselves from sin however after Christ's intervention, He has handed us a big responsibility to exert our will in the direction of godliness. Most of us have some 'will nots' in our lives. There are things we do not do because we believe that they are difficult or unpleasant. James does not spare our feelings with regard to refusal to do God's hard things. He says that "Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." (James 4:17, NIV)

Let these words urge you on when you find yourself wanting to refuse God's invitation to do the hard things.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. (think Olympics!) They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." (1 Corinthians 9:24-25, NIV)

"We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God."

(Hebrews 12:9-11, The Message)

May the Lord bless your day with good things, with joy, and with the peace of God!