Did you ever notice that discipline and disciple share the same root word? The concepts are the same: surrendering ourselves to something or someone, similar to an athlete surrendering his will to a coach. Discipline is defined as instruction, correction and the training which molds, strengthens and improves character. It is also moral education obtained by the enforcement of obedience through supervision and control. Discipline is required is every area of sports. Athletes must be disciplined to run the correct plays and follow their coach’s instruction. They must also be disciplined by working hard in the weight room and taking good care of their bodies by eating properly and getting enough rest.

Not only do we need to be disciplined to become the best athlete possible, we also need discipline to become the best disciple of Christ. Jesus lays out clear instructions for following Him when telling His twelve disciples to take up their crosses “daily.” By fully committing their lives to Jesus, they realized the importance of being obedient and following the greatest teacher of all. Jesus should also be our coach, role model and mentor. Just as coaches help athletes excel, Jesus helps us become a better reflection of Him. By following his instructions, we can become successful in our lives as a believer. Christ desires us to be dedicated to prayer, reading our Bibles, fellowshipping with other believers and meditating on His word. Only in this way, can we be molded and trained by His teachings and become true disciples of Christ.