You are a disciple!

What does the word "Disciple" mean?

When we say disciple, what comes right to our minds is someone who is a follower of the doctrines of a teacher or a school of thought, or maybe one of the followers of Jesus Christ. You are right but have you ever thought that a disciple is also an athlete?

Yes, you read it right. A disciple is an athlete. You must be thinking, how come? In what way? Let me answer that question. Disciples are athletes because they have the same kind of discipline.

1 Corinthians 9:24 (New International Version, ©2011)

The Need for Self-Discipline

 ²⁴ 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.

As an athlete runs toward its goal, a disciple also runs towards God. Athletes need to have discipline in terms of their trainings, food, and in a lot more areas. I know because I was a varsity player in Tae Kwon Do when I was in high school. It's the same with disciples. We cannot just run towards our goal, we need to have discipline first. Here are the aspects of discipline that we must aqcuire:

1. A strict self-control

We should exercise our self-control. One of the things that we need to control is our anger. I'd like to share to you a story that involves two persons namely, Timothy and Johnny.

One day, Timothy decided to take Johnny to the park. While they were strolling around with Johnny, he just suddenly cried. Timothy immediately stopped and not knowing what to do, he went into "Panic mode". After a few seconds, he said to himself, "Calm down Timothy, calm down.". As he was saying these words, a lady was passing by and heard him. She went closer and said, "It's nice that you are trying to calm down little Timothy here.". Immediately, Timothy answered, "Oh, he's not Timothy, I am.".

Sometimes, we are like Timothy. We get into "Panic mode" when something really bad happens to us or to any person that is very much close to you. When this time comes, we just need to take a deep breath, calm down and think.

Never panic in such desperate times!

2. Strong mastery of the body

We need to focus our energy on to what is more important!

Did you know that sometimes athletes need to sacrifice something in order for them to reach their goal? Like sacrificing their favorite foods just to get that weight they're looking for. As Christians, we also need to sacrifice a thing or two in our lives. If God wants us to sacrifice our partners( BF, GF, etc), we must do so because it is his will. To get to our goal and that is Jesus Christ, we must let go of all the things in our earthly body that entangles us to the world. Anything that God wants us to sacrifice is for the betterment of our soul.

Don't let your physical body hinder you from reaching your goal!

Colossians 3:5 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

We must continually give up ourselves in order for us in order

 to have the best of what is in store for us in heaven.

3. Steadfastly pressing towards the goal

The key here is FOCUS! FOCUS! FOCUS! If the athletes are focused then they have the sheer will and the determination to run to the goal no matter what happens. Any hindrances or blockages along the path will not bother the athlete for he will do anything, and I say anything to reach that goal!

* What is your goal as a Christian?

Hebrews 12:2 (New International Version, ©2011)

² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Philippians 3:13-14 (New International Version, ©2011)

¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

I wanna end it with this:

 Shake every hindrance off of ourselves and keep our eyes fixed only on Jesus Christ.

Posted in: Discipleship,Word of God