The Key West citizen., 1954-08-14
BY RALPH ROGERS

Seif-oiSeIpIino sor CROWN -
Temperance Mat. l6:24-25, l Cor.
s:24-27. u Tim 1885, Heb. 12:1-4
Growth demands self-discipline.
The athlete who breaks training
rules, fails to follow the rules of
rest and practice, eats Of the for
hidden diet, soon finds himself
slowing up in practice and the
coach drops him from the field
of candidates for any team. To run
the race of life as a Christian one
must grow and growth means SELF
discipline.
Matthew records the exacting de-
mand of Jesus. The whole ques-
ton is contained in one little two
letter word - if If you would be
a follower of Jesus it is necessary
that we first "deny ourselves" The
flesh puts considerable pressure on
a man and he who gives way to
the demands of the flesh soon
finds himself in conflict with the
laws of both God and man. Soc
iety demands that we recognize
the rights of our neighbor and so
governments seek to enforce our
neighbor's rights should we be sell
fish enough to disregard them. The
Christian goes one step further and
seeks to help his neighbor, denying
himself that his neighbor might
benefit.
In my neighborhood q farmer
was laid up with a broken leg just
at planting time. The neighbors got
together and each one came in
with his tractor, plowed the fields,
prepared the soil and planted the
seed in one day. They denied them
selves that one days work on their
own farms to help neighbor. Key
West has repeatedly given of their
funds, denied themselves, that
SOME child might 60 to a specialist
for an operation or treatment. Paul
went a step further by saying, elf
eating meat will cause my brother
to offend, I will eat no meat" It
takes a strong Christian to thus
deny himself if it causes a brother
to stumble.
Take Up Your Cross
There is another singing de-
mand made by Jesus when he told
his followers to take up their cross.
This does not mean that all Chris
tians must die a violent death as
did Jesus who took up his cross.
st. Francis of Assist died in bed.
However there are burdens the
Christian must carry for "men
shall revile you and persecute you,
and shall say all manner of evil
against you falsely, for my sake"
A. ]. Cronin tells in The Citadel
of two doctors. One coddled the
wealthy hypochondriacs and chose
the easy way. Another doctor in a
poor Welsh mining town minister
ed to the poor with little recon-
pense, and finally got into conflict
with the political economic group
over the expense of adequate sani-
tation. Out of love for his fellow
man this doctor was denying him
self and carrying a heavy cross.
In PauPs letter to the Corinthians
he likenS the Christian life to a
race. It may be that since Paul
was handicapped physically, un-
able to participate in athletics or
pass the physical examination to
be a soldier, he apparently admired
them, perhaps envied them a bit.
Men who competed in the great
Isthmain games held every two
years in Corinth, had to train and
discipline themselves If they ex-
pected to win. If they won they
were given an ivy wreath which Of
course would wither within a day
or so. The crown the Christian
wins in the race of life, if he dis
ciplines himself, if he keeps his
eye on the goal, will be a crown
that never fades, one of righteous
ness, joy and glory.
Control Required
Just as the athlete had to con-
troll himself if he expected to win
in the Greek games, so does the
Christian need to control his ap-