Discipline. We hear that word a lot. We should be disciplined in our eating habits, or in our exercise. We discipline ourselves to get up and get to work on time. We discipline our children. In the case of our children, discipline seems to be most often equated with punishment.
What is discipline?The Apostle Paul wrote about discipline in his first letter to Timothy. "Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness." (1 Timothy 4:7b NASB)
What does that mean exactly? How do we discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness?
Let's begin with a definition. Here's what an on-line dictionary, www.dictionary.com, had to say:
1. training to act in accordance with rules; drill: military discipline.
What does that mean exactly? How do we discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness?
Let's begin with a definition. Here's what an on-line dictionary, www.dictionary.com, had to say:
1. training to act in accordance with rules; drill: military discipline.
2. activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training: A daily stint at the typewriter is excellent discipline for a writer.
3. punishment inflicted by way of correction and training.
4. the rigor or training effect of experience, adversity, etc.: the discipline of poverty.
5. behavior in accord with rules of conduct; behavior and order maintained by training and control: good discipline in an army.
Do any of those definitions help you understand the verse better? I think we most often associate discipline with the third definition - punishment. For example, we think of parents disciplining their children, and generally that refers to punishment of bad behavior.
Perhaps for purposes of understanding this verse, the last definition is the best.....behavior in accord with rules of conduct. Or perhaps the second definition can also aid in our understanding......activity that develops or improves skill. Let's dig a little deeper.
According to the New American Standard Exhaustive Concordance, the Greek word for discipline (the word used in the original language of the New Testament) is gumnazo, which means "to exercise naked" (!!!) or "to train". The Complete Word Study Dictionary, New Testament, by Spiros Zodhiates, confirms this definition....."to train naked, as Greek athletes did; to exercise; to train." This is where we get our English word gymnasium, a place of exercising. Zodhiates goes on to say that metaphorically, gumnazo is used to mean "to train in godliness."
What we have here is an athletic image. We have the challenge to Christians to be as devoted to godliness as an athlete is to his or her sport. And to get rid of anything that hinders that devotion.
What's the conclusion, then, as we examine this word "discipline"? We certainly understand the discipline of an athlete. We discipline ourselves to get up at a certain time and be to work on time. Or we discipline ourselves to eat this/don't eat that for purposes of health or weight loss. Why do we have such a hard time connecting discipline with our Christian lives?
I believe that being disciplined for the purpose of godliness is about devotion. It is not about drudgery. Or about punishment. It is about our commitment to holy living. It's about training. It's about spending time in the Scriptures, reading and studying so that we know "the rules of the game". What Paul is telling Timothy, and us, is that discipline for godliness comes from "being nourished on the words of faith and sound doctrine" (Kay Arthur et al, Walking in Power, Love, and Discipline). And this comes from spending time in the Word of God. Consistent time. Quality time. So that we know and live the truth.
Discipline isn't an ugly word, after all! It's a beautiful word. One that reflects love and devotion. A word that portrays a deep and abiding commitment to live for the One who gave His life for us.
"exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory." (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 NASB)
What we have here is an athletic image. We have the challenge to Christians to be as devoted to godliness as an athlete is to his or her sport. And to get rid of anything that hinders that devotion.
What's the conclusion, then, as we examine this word "discipline"? We certainly understand the discipline of an athlete. We discipline ourselves to get up at a certain time and be to work on time. Or we discipline ourselves to eat this/don't eat that for purposes of health or weight loss. Why do we have such a hard time connecting discipline with our Christian lives?
I believe that being disciplined for the purpose of godliness is about devotion. It is not about drudgery. Or about punishment. It is about our commitment to holy living. It's about training. It's about spending time in the Scriptures, reading and studying so that we know "the rules of the game". What Paul is telling Timothy, and us, is that discipline for godliness comes from "being nourished on the words of faith and sound doctrine" (Kay Arthur et al, Walking in Power, Love, and Discipline). And this comes from spending time in the Word of God. Consistent time. Quality time. So that we know and live the truth.
Discipline isn't an ugly word, after all! It's a beautiful word. One that reflects love and devotion. A word that portrays a deep and abiding commitment to live for the One who gave His life for us.
"exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory." (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 NASB)
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