Hot heads and cold hearts never solved anything.
Billy Graham
At the age of five my parents assigned me into karate. A doctor cardiologist said to them, that it is good for my heart development. Nobody created a big debate over it. Instead, my father brought me to show how kids were doing karate, he asked me if I like it and want to do the same. And, it looks like, that I said “Yes”, because the next day I was already among those kids, even without having a kimono yet.
I cannot tell you with a full assurance that I liked it, but I spent about ten years doing karate. And there were both, good and bad moments about it. But that is not what I am going to talk about today.
Today I want to talk about sport. Or, rather, commitment to the sports and training. To be dedicated and devoted to do everything what sensei (coach) says, despite all the difficulties. Compromising personal time, comfort, and even pain.
I think, I would characterize myself as a committed type of person. I was attending karate classes every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday for couple of hours. In addition to this, I was attending soccer trainings. Finally, the last year of my sport “career” I was doing capoeira.
That was last year before I committed myself into more sinful life. I got lazy, started smoking and consuming alcohol, got rebellious, disobedient, hotheaded and prideful. But at the same time I was broken, lonely, aloof, coldhearted and miserable.
What happened?
I have forsaken what the doctor, whose specialty is hearts, said is good for my heart. And without proper and committed training my heart became cold.
Scripture
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. — 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV
Observation
The very word of God is good for your heart. It says, that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God. That is, every sentence and every individual word is in your possession. Do not neglect this depository of wisdom, understanding, counsel, and knowledge (Isaiah 11:2). But use it for your profit.
First, the Word of God is truth (Psalm 119:160), thus it is good for teaching and study. You will never get wrong about anything, if you base your principles and way of life in His truth.
Second, the Word of God is right and just (Psalm 33:4), thus it is good for reproof and correction. The Word of God will set you upon the right path.
Lastly, the Word of God is a blessing (Psalm 119:1-2), thus it will train you to walk the way of happiness (vv. 1-2), avoiding shame (v. 6). God’s word will give you safety (v. 9) and good counsel (v. 24). His word will give you strength (v. 28) and hope (v. 43). It will give you wisdom (vv. 98-100, 130) and will show you the right way to go (v. 105).
Essentially, we need nothing more than God’s complete Word. Those who adhere to His Word and store it in their hearts will be thoroughly (from the outside towards the inside) and throughly (from the inside toward the outside) furnished for every good work. And then, your life will be complete.
“As the people of God, we believe the word of God can be trusted in every way to speak what is true, command what is right, and provide us with what is good.” – Kevin DeYoung
Application
This is the time for your journaling. Reflect on these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit to test your faith and your walk with Christ.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? — 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV
- Are you committed person?
- Do you train your heart daily?
- What are you doing to keep your heart right with God?
- Does the Word of God live in your heart?
- Memorize some Bible verse or passage from a chapter, or maybe even entire chapter and quote it to some one.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, we adore and glorify You Mighty name, Lord God.
We thank You, God, for the beautiful word that You have revealed to us by Your inspiration. Thank You for the Bible and the life that it gives us through Jesus Christ our Savior.
We pray that the Holy Spirit will teach, reproof, correct and train us to walk the ways of righteousness, completing and equipping us for good word of our faith.
We pray in Jesus name, Amen.
