[ecko_quote source="Galatians 5:22-23"]But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such thing, there is no law.[/ecko_quote]
I’ve always been fascinated with military life. People cannot enjoy liberty without sacrifice being made. We, as Christians, know that very well seeing the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. Where I live (New Zealand), we are privileged to have a very special military team known as the New Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS).
It's an elite special force - unit of New Zealand Army. They are known to train with some of the best in the world including US Marine Corps. To get into this special force is no easy task. Their motto, “Who Dares Wins” should put off most people. They go through very extensive selection process to just get selected to be trained for joining the actual program. Participants describe this selection process as being mentally and physically torturing.
“Among the exercises is the notorious 'Exercise Von Tempsky' which is executed on the fifth day of selection course. Von Tempsky consists of 24 hours of marching in either a swamp or sand dunes while carrying rifles and alternately one or two 20-litre jerrycans and a 35kg alice pack. The final exercise is a 60-kilometre endurance march, carrying a 35kg pack, web gear and rifle to be completed in under 20 hours”.
Did you observe any similarities to our Christian Life? Paul writes in Galatians 5:22-23, to have Self-Control - Essentially same as Self-discipline, known to be one of the nine fruits of the Spirit. These men are training for what they “might” encounter one day. For that day, their training is so extensive and exhausting. As Christians, we are facing a very real enemy who makes it his personal goal to destroy our lives (John 10:10). Yet, many of us, fail to discipline our lives; to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1), and to 'fight' a good fight of faith. We are encouraged in the Bible to make our bodies a slave to us (1 Corinthians 9:27). Are we doing that every day of our lives?
Do you want to become a disciple of God? Start with disciplining your life. Crucify your flesh. Don’t listen to what it wants. Take charge! Be in command, make it your servant. Don’t let it tell you what to do. Ask for God’s Spirit to bring it into subjection. Then, you can truly take up your cross and follow our Saviour faithfully till the end.
Image Source:
[http://images.military.com/media/military-fitness/prepare-for-special-ops-training-programs-image.jpg]
