Cleaning the Launch Pad: Living a Life of Discipline!

2 Timothy 2:3-7 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW) 

"Join me in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Whoever serves in the military doesn’t get mixed up in non-military activities. This pleases his commanding officer. Whoever enters an athletic competition wins the prize only when playing by the rules. A hard-working farmer should have the first share of the crops. Understand what I’m saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things."

Man did I get socked in the face with this today! I love this scripture. I want to look at it more closely with you. 

First I want to say that this passage can be applied to every area of our life. Discipline is what we are called to. We limit God when we are not disciplined. We must make sacrifices to obey. If God says give an extra $5 in the offering, you skip a lunch out this week. If God tells you to start a new bible study? Then you give up your time in front of the TV to read. 

In this passage I see three examples of disciplined lives, and the rewards they get from the lifestyle of discipline. 

The Soldier – Follows orders, cloisters himself with other soldiers, and does not hang out in the world. Reward: This makes his Commanding Officer Happy!

The Athlete- Focuses on training, he does not cut corners or cheat and he strives for mastery in his area of athletics. Reward: He wins the race! 

The Farmer- Focuses on preparing the ground, he always has seed, and he is ready to sow in season. Reward: He gets the first fruits of the harvest. 

These archetypes have 3 things in common:

1. They work harda. 2 Timothy 4:2

b. Proverbs 6:6

2. They are Faithful
a. Psalms 31:23
b. Luke 9:62

3. They press through the suffering in the hard times

a. 1 Timothy 6:19
b. Ps 86:11-17 (MSG)

I don’t know about you, but there are things- dreams that God has given to me and I do not want to limit Him by living an undisciplined life! I want to be ready to launch at the end of His countdown. I want my pad to be clean and clear of debris, and I want to come out swinging at the enemy. 

In the book of Nehemiah, the wall around the city of Jerusalem was in shambles. Nehemiah stirred the people because God placed the dream of a rebuilt, restored wall on Nehemiah’s heart. When the people were disciplined, and anointed by God’s favor, they accomplished what God has said Nehemiah 4:6. 

There were obstacles to this work. And there will be obstacles in our lives too. The first obstacle for the children of Israel was all the debris in and around them. The needed a shovel to get rid of it all. This clutter was distracting to the task God had called them too. But enemies also used the debris to hide behind, hoping to surprise the children of Israel as they worked, to take them unawares, and to kill the vision in them. That is why we need a shovel and a sword! Clean out the debris in your life, and be ready to battle the enemy when he jumps out from behind the junk! (Nehemiah 4: 11, and 4:17) 

Face it; you can’t expect God to launch you if your “pad” is dirty! (And I am so preaching to myself!) 

Be blessed and be a blessing and remember that discipline is a noun and a verb!

Do you struggle with discipline? In what ways?