Shipwrecked

I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:27 NLT

Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles. Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. 1 Timothy 1:18-19 NLT


Paul's instructions in these passages remind us of the importance of discipline in our lives as Christians. So many of us can talk Christianese and share the marvels of God's Truth but aren't really living it day-in and day-out as God desires.

To the church at Corinth, Paul instructs them that training is important to avoid disqualification. Avoiding the "once-saved-always-saved" argument, I believe there is a disqualification that we can experience on earth as Christians. When we're not walking the walk, we become hypocrites. We lose our effectiveness in leading others. We get disqualified.

That's only the first step. Paul goes on to tell Timothy that there's a more dangerous second step that doesn't just affect those around us, but, more importantly, affects our own relationship with God. When we take that step off the deep end and violate our conscience, we shipwreck our faith.

In other words, if I become lazy about having my devotional time with God while promoting the importance of it to others, I'm disqualifying myself from being genuine and authentic in my walk. I've become a hypocrite. And if I walk away from having that time altogether, I'm making a statement whether I realize it or not: I don't need God's power in my life on a daily basis because I can do it all by myself. At that point, you have traveled into the treacherous waters. You will make a decision that is devastating to either yourself or others around you. You will encounter a moral failure. You will experience a shipwreck.

Discipline. Clinging to your faith as if it's a life raft in a dangerous whirlpool. These are the things that we, as Christians, can't forget in the midst of our busyness.