"But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come"-1 Timothy 4:7-8
In our country we almost deify the physical body. Some people will pay tens of thousands of dollars for plastic surgery to get the perfect look--right down to the "ideal" nose. Rain, snow, sleet, or hail, exercise enthusiasts work out religiously. Some dieters count every calorie they put in their mouth. TV commercials advertise the so-called latest exercise equipment on the market guaranteed to give us the perfect body.
There is no question about it; exercise is good for the physical body. But what about the spiritual part of us? We must train that inner being also. In fact, we should devote more time to the latter because bodily exercise benefits us only in this life, but spiritual investments pay off eternally.
The goal of spiritual training is godliness. This denotes a piety that pleases God. The Pharisees were the most religious people on the face of the earth during Jesus' day. They were so far from the truth, however, they even called Jesus a devil. Though extremely devout, their ways did not please God.
Jesus is the perfect picture of godliness. Everything He did greatly pleased God. As we study the Bible and learn of Him, we should strive to emulate Him. At first we might not notice any progress. It is vital that we understand that with time and effort our spiritual being can be conditioned to become godly. Take prayer, for instance; we might loathe getting up earlier each morning to devote more time to talking with God, but if we stick with it we will eventually become prayerful.
It is good to exercise and transform the physical body. But spiritual exercise that shapes us into the very image of Christ is far better.
Dear Lord, Thank You for having given me all things that pertain to godliness. I want to be more like Christ. I have so many areas to work on. Give me much grace in my quest for godliness. Amen.
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