Discipline not only involves goal setting but endurance

As we are approaching the end of September, I am sure you have heard a lot of examples, tips of achieving self-discipline. Today, I would like to share the maintenance of self-discipline with the example of our Patron Saint, St. Paul.

Despite facing opposition, persecution, and imprisonment, Paul has dedicated his life of self-sacrifice to preach and bring others to the faith in Christ with self-discipline. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, he wrote,

“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. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

In this metaphor, Paul compared himself to an athlete who practiced self-control in training to win the race. Paul’s race leads to a prize, not a physical trophy, but to Christ’s recognition for his faithful efforts. He continues to discipline his body with strict self-control over diet, exercise, sleep, and other behaviors. Paul says he “beats up” his body, like a boxer, to toughen himself for the sake of his spiritual stamina. Paul remained in this state of continual training because he does not want to be disqualified in his journey of faith. Discipline not only involves goal setting, but endurance. It is never easy in Paul’s life in preaching, yet he persevered and help spreading the message of Jesus throughout the Roman Empire. Therefore, discipline in the Christian life is more than just avoiding the sinful things, but also denying lawful pleasures if they hinder spiritual progress.

In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul says “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” Having received our bodies as a gift from God, we are to use them to honor God. To honor God with your body means that everything you do should be an act of worship that displays God’s value and worth. The theme of this month is “respect and strengthen oneself, maintain self-discipline’. We respect ourselves as a temple of the Holy Spirit and so we have to maintain self-control, only uses our body and our action to glorify God.

Ms Chong WS