Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:26-27)

The apostle Paul, a man who wrote a significant part of the New Testament, stated that he had not arrived (Philippians 3:12). If Paul had not arrived, then we certainly have room for improvement. In our quest for spiritual maturity there is no finish line – we can always become more like Jesus.

The problem is that too many people are passively drifting through life rather than seeking to take hold of the prize. People have a tendency to settle for good enough. Why do we find it so easy to settle? We like our comfort. If we want to take hold of the prize, it’s going to take effort, hard work, and sacrifice – and many people are not willing to pay the price. Running the race entails purpose, intentionality, and discipline.  A disciplined person is able to do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done. Just as the diamond cannot be polished without friction, so we cannot be perfected without discipline. Paul demonstrated a healthy concern for not being spiritually disqualified.

If we believe that we arrived, then we may be reluctant to undergo the discipline and hardship to become more like Jesus. Anything worth having involves hard work and discipline. Our dilemma is that we have uphill desires, but downhill habits. Discipline involves choosing between what we want now and what we want most. We must realize that the pain of discipline is less than the pain of regret. May we discipline ourselves to create those habits in which our desired behaviors occur automatically.