Training the WillSample

What Are You Training For?

Who is training you, and what are you training for?

Whether a man is a lazy or diligent worker, an engaged or distracted father, and/or a devoted or difficult husband, make no mistake: all of them are in training.

Men must realize that we do not pursue self-control for its own sake. We submit to Christ’s training, which teaches us that self-control supports a life of love.

Paul challenged Timothy to train himself “for godliness.” The default option was training for something else.

Training for godliness must be chosen. Our character is being formed every day. Our decisions and the inputs into our lives lead us to become more or less like Christ.

He is training us, or someone else is. Everyone will be successfully trained by whoever or whatever they are following.

In 1 Timothy 4:1-3, Paul describes people falling away from faith who are unknowingly trained by deceiving spirits and demons. These former and falling believers actively practice self-control, but not the kind that leads to Christlikeness.

Self-discipline can help us become physically or financially fit, but that fitness may make us proud, vain, materialistic, or selfish.

Disciplined prayer and generosity may be more a way to manage our image and bolster our ego than real communion with Christ and participation in His work.

We must allow Jesus to teach us self-control that leads to Christlikeness.

Paul reacts to these fallen, wrongly-disciplined believers by saying, “Train yourself for godliness.”

Self-control is not the end; love is. Discipline isn’t our goal; union with God is. If our practice of self-control doesn’t deepen our worship and increase our love, we are being trained by someone or something other than Christ.

Satan is a brilliant liar. He takes good things and twists them. The road of virtue is full of temptations. Self-control doesn’t guarantee Christlikeness, but you can’t become like Christ without self-control.

This is heavy news, but don’t be afraid. Jesus is a phenomenal trainer!

The Contractor of Creation isn’t daunted by our weakness and failures nor Satan’s clever schemes. Let us not pursue self-discipline so much as we pursue Christ, who will teach us self-discipline. Trust that “He who began this good work in you will finish it” (Philippians 1:6).

Prayer: Lord, help me fix my eyes and heart on You. Deepen my longing to know You and become like You. Show me how You’re teaching me today and where You’re leading me into self-discipline for the sake of Your kingdom and glory. Amen.

Reflection: Thomas à Kempis famously wrote, “If men used as much care in uprooting vices and implanting virtues as they do in discussing problems, there would not be so much evil and scandal in the world.”[1] Consider the real value of letting Christ reshape your character and develop self-control in you. What’s the next step today?

[1] The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis, page 6