Train for Godliness

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. (1 Timothy 4:7-10)

No one becomes a great athlete overnight. What do they need? Lots of training and practice. “No pain, no gain,” right? Even the best athletes train for hours a day to succeed in their sport.

Do you train that hard for godliness? Do you put as much hard work, effort, and concentration into your Christian faith as athletes put into sports?

Why wouldn’t we? Physical training is of some value. It helps keep our bodies healthy and strong. Yet, godliness is so much more valuable. Why? It impacts both the present life and the life to come. If it’s worth it to exercise our bodies, how much more valuable is it to exercise our faith?

In fact, this is one of Paul’s five “trustworthy” sayings in his letters of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus. God is the Savior of all people. Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the whole world! Yet, God’s salvation is especially for those who believe. It’s those who have faith in Jesus who receive eternal life.

Isn’t that our goal as Christians? Eternal life? Like an athlete trains to get to the Super Bowl or win a gold medal or run a marathon, train for godliness so that you can receive the greatest prize of all: Heaven.

What’s your exercise plan for godliness? Feed your soul on God’s Word every day, like an athlete closely watches what she eats. Attend worship and Bible study as often as you can, like an athlete relishes training with others to grow and improve. Find mature Christian mentors and pastors to hold you accountable for your spiritual life, like an athlete benefits greatly from a dedicated coach. Surround yourself with Christian friends who encourage you to turn away from sin and live for God and his glory.

Does that sound like hard work? It is! But it’s worth it. Train for godliness!

Dear Jesus, you set the greatest goal before our eyes: Eternal life through faith in you! Like an athlete dedicated to winning a prize, motivate us to train for godliness both for this life and the life to come. Amen.

Pastor Nathan