Amy Williams has just won a gold medal for Britain in the Winter Olympics. It is the first solo gold medal for 30 years. Great stuff. I was struck by the words she used to describe the years leading up to this skeleton bob victory. She explained her will to win, saying:
‘Every decision I made was, ‘Is this going to help me go to the Olympics or is it not? Do I go out, do I not go out?’
‘I’ve probably been a bit of a bore for the last few years and probably haven’t given my friends enough attention, but I knew I was doing it to get here and now it’s all paid off. I haven’t regretted anything.’
Her words cannot fail to bring to mind the words of Scripture:
1Cor 9:24-27 (ESV)
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
When we fail to discipline ourselves, if we are really the Lord’s he will discipline us that we may share in his holiness.
Heb 12:1-7 (ESV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
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