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Would you run eight 400-meter sprints at 1 o’clock in the morning? Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce did that once when he traveled to Paris. It was the only time he could train after a very busy and long day. Kelce takes training his body seriously. Besides running, he performs squats, lunges and rows, as well as several other exercises. He seeks to develop all the muscles in his body to give him explosive performance and to protect him in the brutal sport of NFL football. He has been one of the most durable tight ends in the last few years.*
This week we will focus on the third thing we should add to faith, namely, self-control. Listen for it in 2 Peter 1:5-8, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.” (NIV 1984)
The word in this passage translated “self-control” was used in the ancient world to describe mastery of your desires, self-restraint and discipline. One use described the athlete in training. I’m sure Travis Kelce needed some self-discipline to run sprints in the middle of the night after a long day. We also need self-control to pursue God’s will in a world that tempts our every desire.
*Anna Katherine Clemmons, “How to Build Explosiveness Like NFL Star Travis Kelce,” Men’s Health, September 19, 2021, https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a37331144/travis-kelce-workout/
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Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.