Want to Work Out?

No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. —Hebrews 12:11

I confess that discipline is one of my least favorite subjects. But it’s something that must be embraced if we want the fruit it produces.

Although it may seem unimportant to some, physical discipline is necessary for effective spiritual service. I’ve often been sobered by Paul’s words: “I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified” (1 Cor. 9:27). Paul lived with the awareness that a failure to discipline his physical body could ultimately cause him to be rendered useless— sidelined, disqualified in the final stretch of the race.

I’ve never been athletically inclined and have always disliked physical exercise. But I’ve found that when I’m intemperate in eating and exercise habits, I become vulnerable in virtually every other area of my life. If I’m unwilling to be disciplined in the most basic areas of my body, what guarantee is there that I will be disciplined in other areas that have even greater implications and consequences?