Vince Lombardi, the legendary coaching genius who coahed three consecutive world championship football teams, once said, “I’ve never known a man worth his salt who, in the long run, deep down in his heart, did not appreciate the grind and the discipline. There is something in good men that truly yearns for and needs discipline.”
Paul wrote, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:27). “Castaway” is translated as “debased,” “unfit,” and “worthless” in other passages (Romans 1:28; Titus 1:16; Hebrews 6:8). Paul is clearly talking about losing the chance to go to heaven, despite the fact that many denominations teach that a believer is eternally secure.
A Christian has to demonstrate self-control (2 Peter 1:6). It is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). A good commentary on self-control is found in Galatians 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Self-control means that someone let Christ take over their life, living righteously instead of immorally. Preachers must preach on the subjects of dancing, drinking, fornication, adultery, cursing, hatred, anger, etc., because they are all manifestations of a lack of self-control. In the final analysis, Christ wants purity. Let us discipline our bodies and bring them into subjection to the will of Christ.
Kyle Campbell