Most folks who have been...
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Most folks who have been involved in athletics have heard the phrase, "No pain, no gain." The meaning being that unless the exercise you do causes your muscles to ache, then in all probability you did not work hard enough at the exercise. Many qualified physicians would disagree, but most would agree that the discipline of doing the exercise day in and day out is what is most important.
The great baseball pitcher, Nolan Ryan, had an incredible work ethic. The day after throwing his record-breaking seventh no-hitter, he was in the gym at 8 a.m. lifting weights, preparing himself for his next game. He knew that he had attained a certain level of excellence because he had dedicated himself to continually conditioning his body to perform at a high level. Like any great achiever he knew that what got him to that point in his life could not be set aside, but had to be reinforced every day.
The Christian has the same task at hand. We can celebrate and move into the world filled with joy at living with the Christ. Each time we are in his presence we are throwing a "no-hitter." We feel like the world cannot harm us or force us to do anything harmful to the church or the people who are the church. But Christians are like athletes who occasionally come up limp. Our spiritual muscles become weak when we no longer exercise them regularly. Our spiritual lives begin to rebel like a child rebelling against a parent because in our inactivity we lose sight of the cross.
Daily spiritual exercise is needed in order to keep in shape "No pain, no gain." Well, maybe not pain, but through our regular association with our Lord, "gain" is certainly the result.
- Clarke
The great baseball pitcher, Nolan Ryan, had an incredible work ethic. The day after throwing his record-breaking seventh no-hitter, he was in the gym at 8 a.m. lifting weights, preparing himself for his next game. He knew that he had attained a certain level of excellence because he had dedicated himself to continually conditioning his body to perform at a high level. Like any great achiever he knew that what got him to that point in his life could not be set aside, but had to be reinforced every day.
The Christian has the same task at hand. We can celebrate and move into the world filled with joy at living with the Christ. Each time we are in his presence we are throwing a "no-hitter." We feel like the world cannot harm us or force us to do anything harmful to the church or the people who are the church. But Christians are like athletes who occasionally come up limp. Our spiritual muscles become weak when we no longer exercise them regularly. Our spiritual lives begin to rebel like a child rebelling against a parent because in our inactivity we lose sight of the cross.
Daily spiritual exercise is needed in order to keep in shape "No pain, no gain." Well, maybe not pain, but through our regular association with our Lord, "gain" is certainly the result.
- Clarke
