Training

2 Timothy 3:14-17 (ESV)

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

I love to watch the Olympics. It’s a fun time to watch the athletes compete for the gold medal. These athletes have trained their entire lives for this one moment. They know the battles they will face. They will need to endure trial and suffering. They will have to give up certain luxuries that other people can take. But, yet they give up those things and focus on their one goal. They train for one purpose—to win their event. So, they keep training for years and years.

And then the event arrives. The pressure builds. In that moment, what do the Olympic athletes rely on? Their training, their coach, and their form. They have practiced and practiced. They have trained and built their strength so that when the pressure is on, they know exactly what to do and can do it without even thinking. Their training has become a part of them.

The Christian life is similar to the training of an Olympic athlete, except a Christian isn’t training for a one-time event like the 800m run, the 100m dash, figure skating, or speed skating. Being a Christian isn’t an event; it is a way of life. And the Christian path is filled with trials and temptations. The devil and the world, who influence you and your friends, will want you to do certain things, to “enjoy” sinful things, and to give up all your training for a good time.

In those moments, there is a lot of pressure. When temptation is standing right in front of you, the pressure is on. You can feel it. In moments of temptation, what can you do?

Many times, our strength isn’t as great as the Olympic athlete, and we fall to temptation. In those moments of weakness, what can you do?

Like an Olympic athlete, you have something to rely on in moments of temptation and weakness. You have God’s Word. You already know God’s Word and can learn to know it better. Read again Paul’s words to young Timothy. Paul encourages Timothy to continue in God’s Word! Paul encourages Timothy to not give up his “training” but to continue in reading, studying, and applying God’s Word. Why? God’s Word gives you the power to tell the devil and all the temptations, “No.” God’s Word points you to Jesus and reminds you he’s won the contest for you. God’s Word tells you about forgiveness from all your guilt—yes even your secret guilt—because of what Jesus did.

When temptation’s pressure is on, remember your training. Run to God’s Word.

Dear Lord, help us constantly train in God’s Word, so that by Your grace we may fight the temptation that are all around us.  In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Let’s build strong children.

Proverbs 22:6  (ESV)

Train up a child in the way he should go;

    even when he is old he will not depart from it.

At 13-years of age, slave Frederick Douglass longed for someone to confide in; he longed for a father and protector. A pastor encouraged him to cry out to God because He would always be such a friend. The pastor explained about sin and repentance and how to be reconciled to God. As a result, Frederick cast all his cares on God and accepted God’s gift of salvation. He suddenly saw his world in a new light. He began to love all men, including slaveholders, though he abhorred slavery more than ever. His desire to learn increased, especially when it came to the Bible.

He began to teach himself how to read and write and he passed his knowledge on to other slaves by teaching them how to read the New Testament. More than 40 slaves would attend his weekly instruction. Eventually, the study was discovered by the slaveowners, who violently forced the slaves to stop.

This abolitionist and statesman is considered by many to be the most influential African American of the nineteenth century. Douglass is quoted as saying,

"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men."

Solomon shares the importance of giving children a strong foundation in the faith while they are young. Training up children in “the way they should go” means directing them toward the Savior and teaching them the ways of God. Even at a young age, children can comprehend their need for a Savior and accept His gift of salvation.

Discipline is also an integral part of raising godly children. Godly discipline is rooted in love and the Bible says it produces a harvest of righteousness for those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:11).

As Douglass said, it is easier to be diligent in raising strong children than to repair broken adults. How are you training your children up in the ways of the Lord? Are you giving them a strong foundation in the ways of God? Consistently share your faith with your children and encourage them to make it their own in a personal and intimate way. 

Dear Lord, thank You for the children that are in our life. Help us to train them in a way that You would have us to. Give us the strength to mold them into fine young men and women. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

We are enlisted

2 Timothy 2:4 (ESV)

No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

Did you know that as a Christian, you have been enlisted as a soldier representing the Kingdom of God? You no longer represent yourself. God will train you through His word, your pastor’s teaching and your own devotion time.

As we’re being trained, there can be times where we have to put aside what feels good in order to do what’s right. There will be times when you’d rather watch TV, or hang out with friends instead of spending time reading the Bible or in prayer. However, it’s what you do in times of training that help you become set up for success when the trials of life come your way.

Remember today that you’re not just living for yourself. You’re living for God and there are times when you have to put aside what is easy or feels good in order to go deeper in your relationship with God.

Dear Lord, be with us as we train to be the ones You want us to be. Help us to get into Your Word and study and then share what we learn. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Are You Helping Your Children to Know the Lord?

Proverbs 22:6  (NIV)

Start children off on the way they should go,

    and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

In the late 1880's, Benjamin B. Warfield, a professor at Princeton University, traced the known descendants of Jonathan Edwards. Edwards was the first president of Princeton and one of the key preachers in religious revival known as the "Great Awakening" during the eighteenth century. Warfield charted the 1,394 known descendants of Edwards. Of his known descendants there were 13 college presidents, 65 college professors, 30 judges, 100 lawyers, 60 physicians, 75 army and navy officers, 100 pastors, 60 authors of prominence, 3 United States senators, 80 public servants in other capacities including governors and ministers to foreign countries, and one vice-president of the United States.

Richard Dugdale, a sociologist and a contemporary of Warfield's, traced the known descendants of Max Jukes. Jukes was a Dutch immigrant that arrived in New York in the early 1700's. An alcoholic who couldn't hold a job, of the 903 descendants of Jukes, 300 were delinquents, 145 confirmed drunkards, 90 were prostitutes, and over 100 spent an average of 13 years in prison including seven were convicted for murder. The Jukes' family cost the taxpayers of New York over 1.2 million dollars. The descendants of Edwards never cost the government a single penny, instead making contributions of incalculable worth.

The best ministry parents can have is to train their children to know Jesus Christ. Are you helping your child to know the Lord?

Dear Lord, today we pray for our children. Help us to take the time to teach them to know You better. Help us prepare them with a good foundation so that they will become the person You want them to be. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.