TO all those who are lucky enough to be Christians, I say “hearty congratulations” to you for having escaped from eternal damnation and are now set free in a new life in Christ Jesus (John 3:16, 36; 1:12; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 8:1, 28-30; Ephesians 2:8, 9). However, it is our bounden duty to continue to train for spiritual growth and victory in the Christian life.

The Bible never gives the impression that real Christian living and spiritual growth is easy. In the lives of God’s people described in the Bible, there was always opposition and struggle, from without and within (John 16:33). But the existence of opposition did not keep these dear people of God from pressing on in obedience to God.

Rather, God used the men who went through these experiences to call others to follow them in obedience to the will of God. This is why in Christian experience there is a continual challenge to grow, but never a call to relax and take it easy. As a great amount of training is needed for athletic activities, so we must train diligently for the Christian life. And since training takes time, dedication, energy, continued practice, and vision, we must all commit ourselves seriously, doggedly and perseveringly to the Christian life.

To succeed maximally, we must first know the rules as prescribed in God’s Word (II Timothy 2:5). Hence God decrees in Joshua 1:8, saying, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.