Millions of people are watching the Olympic Games being held in Beijing, China. The top athletes in the world are exhibiting character traits that challenge us as they compete for the gold, silver, and bronze medals. The years of training for these events come to the front in the athletes’ examples of commitment, discipline, and many other qualities of character.

The Olympic athletes’ performances came to my mind while reading again some words of the Apostle Paul written to the Corinthian Church about “running a race” and “gaining a prize.” Paul was fascinated by the picture of an athlete. An athlete must train with intensity if he or she is to win the race. Corinth knew how thrilling contests could be, because the Isthmian games, which were second only to the Olympic games, were held in Corinth. To have your name inscribed on the Corinthian Way was one of life’s highest honors. Furthermore, these athletes endured this self-discipline and training to win a crown of leaves that within days would be a withered crown. How much more should a Christian discipline himself or herself to win the crown which is eternal life?

Discipline should be as important to us as it is to athletes. We have to discipline our bodies. It is one of the neglected facts of the spiritual life that very often spiritual depression springs from nothing else but a lack of physical fitness. We neglect our physical health at our own peril. Physical exercise is needed at every age in life.

We must discipline our minds. It is one of the tragedies of life that most persons refuse to think until they are incapable of thinking clearly. Most of the time we do not think, we just rearrange our prejudices.

We must discipline our souls through prayer, Bible study, and devotional reading. Prayer is not so much reasoned out of our lives as it is crowded out. There is quite a difference in being an admirer of the Bible, and being a student of the Bible. The Bible should be daily required reading. We are so blessed today with an abundance of devotional literature.

The purpose, preparation, and perseverance of the Olympic athletes serve to challenge us to deeper commitment and discipline in our lives. There are times when the athletes stumble and fall, but they get up, dust themselves off, and get back in the game. This many times is the difference between victory and defeat. We can also be victorious in the contests of living when we make spiritual fitness a priority.