Christian Training, Not Christian Trying

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.
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).
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.