But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9:27

In the past seven years I have had the “pleasure” of biking across six states to raise money for a mission organization. If I didn’t train for it, I wouldn’t be able to do it. It takes hundreds of hours of discipline, training, eating right, and conditioning.

In this passage, Paul says that he disciplined his body and kept it under control so that he wouldn’t lose faith. It is a good lesson to us even in this 21st century that we need to practice the Holy Spirit’s gift of self-control so that our bodies remain good, clean temples of the Holy Spirit, and so that we may remain strong in the faith, not letting our sinfulness take over our souls.

Jeremy Klaustermeier
Warrenton, MO

Lord, give me self-discipline so that my sin does not overtake me, and I remain in you. Amen.

Reflect: Devise an easy plan of exercise and nutrition that you can stick with.

Read: Galatians 5:22-26 and Daniel 1:8-16