“While bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” –I Timothy4:8
Once again, it is time to discard the old calendar and put up the new. A New Year ushers high energy right out of the gate with well-intended resolutions for change, typically with exercise topping most lists. Bodily training has some value, says the Apostle Paul to his young disciple now Pastor Timothy. As to the limited value, I intend to train for a 5K this year and accompany my oldest in a run. But this body is wearing out, and no amount of bodily training will last.
Paul contrasts the value of bodily training with godliness. Just as the gym is of some value for training the body, this life is meant for training in godliness at everlasting value. Yes, for the life to come, but Paul emphasizes that training now for godliness has promise for this present life. Godliness here means devotion, holding a heart devoted to God. While our earthly body wears out and withers like the grass, training in godliness proves most valuable as what is devoted to God is as eternal as God Himself.
As you make good earthly resolutions for the New Year, consider the limited value of such a resolution in contrast to the things devoted to God. With bodily training through 2023 may make you faster and stronger and physically feeling better by December than you do now, imagine with devotion to the study of the Bible, with resolve to serve the saints of Jesus Christ in the assembly of His church, with a serious attention to the commands of Christ such as repentance, rejoicing, reconciling, loving and praying for enemies, using your mouth for praise and not cursing, devoting time for prayer, having a reputation for peace and gentleness, and evangelizing the lost. How much healthier would you be spiritually by December?
Training in godliness is founded in knowing God’s revelation in the Bible. In order to be complete for every good work of eternal value, there is found a treasury for your training in righteousness in the Bible (II Timothy 3:16-17). As the problem in Ephesus for Timothy was people believing and teaching false doctrines (I Timothy 1:3-4) and talking about “irreverent, silly myths” (ITimothy 4:7), the problem for so many Christians today is susceptibility to things which sound Christian but are in fact false doctrines and spending their time knowing and talking about everything but the things of God. The best defense for the church from such attacks from Satan is a devoted knowledge of God who revealed Himself in His Word.
May the Lord in His excellent power and grace grant to us hearts devoted to godliness. With such devotion, our hearts will be strengthened in assurance of God’s saving grace and to be complete for every good work in the present life. Such eternal value is the promise that such a life glorifies God.
Heavenly Father, we approach You in prayer with one encouragement to our souls: Your mercy. Grant to us hearts devoted to training in godliness with assurance of Your promised eternal value for the life to come and to this present life that Your name would be glorified in the life of Your saints. Bless us by Your needed mercies rich and free in Christ our Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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