I have learned the difference between training and trying. I was reading in a magazine about certain stomach workouts, and I thought I would give it a try. I wanted to do all the workouts that this guy does. My stomach was sore for weeks even breathing hard hurt. I thought that doing 10 sit ups here and there would keep me in shape, but no. I needed more than that, especially since I was and still am out of shape.
You know Christianity is the same way. We are called to be Christians. If you grew up in the church like I did or was converted later in life; we all need training. Our lives need to be trained to be like Chirst. Christianity is not something we try, like we try a flavor or ice cream or popsicle. Christianity is a life training exercise.
As I look in the Bible and look at Jesus’ ministry, I can see where he was training the twelve disciples. They needed lots of training, just like us. Three years they spent with him and still they were lacking until the Holy Spirit came to dwell in them.
Also, as I look how Jesus treated other people I see that he was also preparing them for training. Jesus told the woman caught in adultery “go and sin no more” (John 8:11). Jesus taught an expert of the law the lesson on being a good neighbor and having mercy by telling him “go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37). He told the disciples to “go into all the world” (Mark16:16).
You see they didn’t just try to go, they made every effort possible to go! We as Christians need to make every possible effort to be like Christ! We shouldn’t just try one of the teaching of the Bible and say, “Oh well I couldn’t do it”. No, we need to practice that teaching and if we can’t do it then we need to train ourselves to do what Jesus is asking us to do.
We can get our training from Bible classes, our personal reading of the scriptures, listening to devotional lessons, singing hymns, talking to our leadership and attending worship. I know it can be difficult at first, but training our hearts and minds to serve God will have the best results we can get. We will get to heaven.