Monday: Soldiers and Athletes
As a skilled communicator, Paul in his mission work used the familiar to explain the unfamiliar. He took everyday features of the Greco-Roman world to illustrate the practical reality of new life in Christ.
Image © Jeff Preston from GoodSalt.com
He drew especially from two areas of his converts’ world for his teaching metaphors—athletes with their games and the ever-present Roman soldier.
Fondness for athletic accomplishments gripped Paul’s world, much as it does ours. Ancient Greeks transmitted their love of competition by holding, over the centuries, no fewer than four separate cycles of Olympic-type contests, located in different parts of Greece. Romans inherited and further promoted athletic competition. Foot races were the most popular events and included a race of men wearing full suits of military armor. Wrestling also was popular. Athletes trained assiduously, and winners were richly rewarded. Ethnicity, nationality, and social class mattered little, since endurance and performance were the goals.
What key lessons for the Christian life would Paul’s readers have found in the following passages? 1 Cor. 9:24-27, Gal. 5:7;1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Tim. 2:5.
Starting with Marius, Roman emperors replaced temporary soldiers with full-time career warriors, garrisoned them across the Roman Empire, and upgraded and standardized their armor and weapons. By Paul’s time, soldiers were recruited from various ethnic and national groups, whether or not they were Roman citizens. In return for rewards at the end of their term of service, soldiers pledged total loyalty to the ruling emperor, who in times of conflict personally led them into battle.
In the following passages, what comparisons did Paul make between soldiering and the Christian life? 2 Cor. 10:4-5; Eph. 6:10-18; 1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Tim. 2:3-4.
In what is perhaps Paul’s final letter, he applied both soldiering and athletics to his own view of his life as a Christian missionary: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith
(2 Tim. 4:7 NIV).
In what ways is faith a fight and in what ways a race? How have you experienced the reality of both metaphors in your own Christian life? Which metaphor best describes your own experience, and why?
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By his reference to sports and battle figures Paul does not encourage a competitive spirit which provokes rivalry, hostility, jealousy or ambition to be on top among believers (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
Rather he underscores the importance of effort and discipline in the Christian life on the path to perfection of character. According to the apostle absent or weak effort and violation of the rules equal disqualification (2 Timothy 2:3-5).
With the signs indicating the nearness of the close of probation some may be worried they are not now perfect. In part this may be understandable if there is disregard for Biblical statements like, “…every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36). Yet with complete submission perfection rests on the Savior (Jude 1:24).
As well it has been said if one does not make the cut in the 144,000 there is hope to be in the great multitude (Revelation 7:3-14), as if to suggest there is some lower standard of attainment at a second tier/level. There is actually some evidence to suggest both groups are the same.
Whether or not this is so the requirements of salvation are the same in every age and for all the redeemed. It is perfect obedience. Christ satisfied this on mankind’s behalf (1 John 3:5). Yet this provision is only available to those who are perfect in character, not necessarily in action, but in attitude. Effort is evidence of this perfect attitude.
God is not trying to catch us in an occasional slip or rare mistake. He wants to catch us making effort. He will provide the enabling power (Philippians 2:12-16).
Like in any other race, it is not about how you started - it's all about whether you finish the race or not, that's all what matters!!! Paul says: "What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ" (Phillipians 3:8)
It is the battle of the mind, but we are not alone. Christ fought the fight for us and we just have to surrender our weakness to him and we will overcome. Sometimes I feel like giving up because it looks like I am stuck in a hole, but the Holy Spirit reminds me that it is not in my strength that I will overcome but in Christ strength. Please pray for me!!
The thought that God will see us through is what gives me hope. I have messed up bad and all I can hope is for mercy and forgiveness and strength to continue, do my best, looking forward to Jesus coming and mercifully saved, even though I don't deserve it, I don't.
Diana, your confession and remorse is evidence that the Holy Spirit is leading you. It is quite painful to be cleansed, as we are so attracted to the old nature. But, each day brings more hope. Believe it! I have been guilty of severe sins against our lovely Jesus, years past. The cleansing was not pleasant, but still necessary. That's why we cry and mourn our disobedience.
Stay in prayer, each morning and evening. They don't have to be lengthy, just pour your heart out to Jesus. He has promised His Spirit to help us. And He can never lie. If you stumble, His grace is sufficient for you. Take each day as it comes. God is much more patient with us than we are with ourselves. Our God is able. Remember, He keeps all His promises. May our Almighty Father and our Savior and Brother, Jesus, make their Presence, Love, and Peace known to you through their Holy Spirit. You are not too much for them! They love you without limits! Tears for a few minutes then sing and be glad! Guilt is replaced with thankful joy.
Yes it hurts. Thank you for your words, for caring this way Marie. God Bless You.
God's wants total submission from us,so we need to pray with conviction for total conviction of the Holy Spirit and put on the whole armor of God, that's the only way we are going to make it in this race.
Total submission to God is probably one of the least understood concepts. What does it mean? When I hear people tell me that I should submit to God, they generally mean they think that I am wrong and if I want to be saved I have to think the same way that they do.
Perhaps submission to God means that we should talk and listen to one another a bit more rather than assuming that we right!
No outward observances can take the place of simple faith and entire renunciation of self. But no man can empty himself of self. We can only consent for Christ to accomplish the work. Then the language of the soul will be, Lord, take my heart; for I cannot give it. It is Thy property. Keep it pure, for I cannot keep it for Thee. Save me in spite of myself, my weak, unchristlike self. Mold me, fashion me, raise me into a pure and holy atmosphere, where the rich current of Thy love can flow through my soul.
It is not only at the beginning of the Christian life that this renunciation of self is to be made. At every advance step heavenward it is to be renewed. All our good works are dependent on a power outside of ourselves. Therefore there needs to be a continual reaching out of the heart after God, a continual, earnest, heartbreaking confession of sin and humbling of the soul before Him. Only by constant renunciation of self and dependence on Christ can we walk safely. {COL 159.4}
Maurice, I used to also feel confusion when I was told to submit to God. No one told me HOW to submit to God. Even though I perfectly understand and BELIEVE in the verses in this lesson and those others mentioned above, I learned that submission a hard way.
Here was my lesson:
I was a smoker. I so badly wanted to quit because I was also a D.A.R.E Officer (Drub Abuse Resistance Education) in the public schools. That program taught that dangers of different drugs, including alcohol and tobacco. I knew it was not good but was so addicted that I didn't know how to quit. I had prayed and prayed and one day I came up with a plan.
I went to every little store (in the small little city where I worked as a Police Officer) and told the people that I was going to quit tomorrow and no matter how much I wanted to buy cigarettes, they were not to sell them to me. Then I went to all the smokers at the Police and Fire Departments and told them that no matter how much I might beg them for a cigarette, don't give it to me.
The day, as I drove into town to work, I threw my cigarettes out the window. By 2 o'clock, I really began craving a cigarette so I drove to the place where I threw them out and began to search the grass and found them and lit one up. I was so discouraged that I was so week BUT I wasn't going to stop trying. THE next day, I prayed again and threw the cigarettes out the window BUT this time I broke the cigarettes in half, realizing that I had a hole in my plan on the day prior. By 2:30 o'clock, I went to the location where I threw them out and had brought some TAPE with me and I found one that I could tape back together and I smoked it! Once again, the disheartening feeling of weakness came over me BUT I decided that I wasn't going to quit trying to the next day, I did everything the same as I drove into town, but changed 1 flaw in the plan. This time to totally crumbled the cigarettes up so that it was impossible to tape them together. I made it all the way to 5:00 o'clock and I was going to the police station to park my car, I looked down by the door and I saw this really long cigarette butt laying there. I couldn't believe it! It was like treasure I'd found. I ran to my car with it and lit it up! Now, unless you've ever faced an addiction, you can never imagine the depths one will go to to fill that need!
As I drove him, I cried and cried and cried and told the Lord that I was no better than those that I was locking up in jail for illegal drugs, it was just that my drug was legal. I begged Him to forgive me but told Him that I was never going to try again because even though I knew the Lord's strength, I finally recognized my utter weakness and inability to help myself. After I said this to the Lord, I added, "But Lord, if you by some miraculous means choose to outright deliver me (without my help), then by all means I would rejoice in that gift" and I told Him that I would NEVER accept any praise for quitting and would tell everyone, every time, that it was GOD who delivered me!
Three weeks later, after that prayer, I was standing in one of those convenience stores about to light up a cigarette (the first of the day and it was around 2:00 p.m.) and I heard the Lord tell me that I didn't have to light that one up if I really wanted to quit. You see, for 3 weeks, I had been feeling really nauseated when I'd smoke. The nausea was getting worse every day. I hadn't even realized how little I'd been smoking in that last week. But when I heard Him tell me that I didn't need to lite that one up, I put down. I threw the pack cigarettes away and NEVER HAD THE URGE TO SMOKE AGAIN! I knew that this was a miracle because I had quit smoking previously for 7 years but I always WANTED a cigarette every day and when I went through my divorce, I started smoking again because I thought it was helping me to de-stress. (What I lie that is!) So I knew that when I didn't WANT one, it was clearly a MIRACLE! I learned then what submission was! For me to give up in MY efforts and rely on God's effort alone. You see, why I was REALLY wanting to quit was so that I could become a Youth leader in my church and I knew that if I was relying on a cigarette to calm me, I couldn't teach young people to rely on God to calm them and meet all of their needs. So, God answered my prayers and taught me then that he would give me the desires of my heart but it was purely a gift that I could take no credit for. Yes, I later started working with the Youth as a Sabbath School Teacher.
Oh, and by the way, I was saved and baptized already. God didn't expect me to quit first and then get baptized. Instead, He was working on far more important matters of my heart and in His time, He took care of that too. WOW, the Holy Spirit really does work when we leave the job to him!
Hi Catherine, That was not what I had in mind when I wrote the above comment, but you story is an inspiring one and worth telling. You knew what God's will was and acted on it. I have friends who have battled with addictions and habits too for long periods of time and they too have come under conviction that they needed to change their lifestyle. For some the change has been instantaneous, for others the battle has gone on for years. God does not always provide a switch to turn things on and off. Sometimes he provides a road for us to take. I don't pretend to know why - it is my job as a Christian to be supportive of those who have either experience. Both are following God's will.
I know that you can use your story to be an encouragement to others, even those who have to follow a long hard road.
My original intention was to get people to think about how God's will is revealed to us. All too often we try and define God's will for others in our terms. (Just think of some of the language used in some of the major disputes we have had in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.) Sometimes we misuse the term God's will when we really should be saying that "this is the way I see God's will".
Catherine, Thank you for sharing your personal story. It inspires me.
Among the grass hides still my seven-year old companion;
Linger there for seconds, burning with inner craving，
I grope among the dwarf bush, scooping out the crumbled white.
Once upon a day, twice bite, yet three fights,
Puff the last bite!
Mist wells out of my eye.
By the glittering light I wade through the shadow.
An addiction, snaking for a tight twist,
A submission, reckoning a strong fist,
I put it down, down, down again
Then, I see a clear MIRACLE God has working on me.
Lord, take my heart; for I cannot give it. It is Thy property. Keep it pure, for I cannot keep it for Thee. Save me in spite of myself, my weak, unchristlike self. Mold me, fashion me, raise me into a pure and holy atmosphere, where the rich current of Thy love can flow through my soul. {COL 159.3}