Everyone who competes in the
games goes into strict training.
—1 Corinthians 9:25
Striding to the stake in the Stadium of Smyrna, Polycarp prayed, “O God, make me a true athlete of Jesus Christ, to suffer and to conquer.”
The New Testament compares the Christian to the athlete some 50 times. One translation presents today’s text, “Everyone who competes practices self-discipline in everything.”
Given a choice between an athlete of exceptional ability who is lazy and undisciplined and an athlete of moderate ability who sweats out a demanding training regimen day after day, a coach will take the latter every time.
An undisciplined athlete isn’t a long-time winner. Neither is an undisciplined disciple. Disciple and discipline come from the same root.
Stay in the game.