When I go into the gym, I see lots of people training. Some are on treadmills, some are pulling weights with a harness and some are lifting weights. In order to grow stronger, people do reps or repetitious movements with the weights. Then they do sets of those reps. It’s visible who has been doing it for a while. However, one of the crazy stats I read said that over 60% of gym memberships are never used. People sign up with good intentions, but find reasons not to go. They like the result of the reps and the idea of someone who trains, but when it comes to showing up, doing the reps and building their strength, they’re not willing to go through what it takes.
In 1 Timothy 4:7-8 Paul wrote, “Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. ‘Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come’” (NLT). When he says, “Train yourself to be godly,” he uses the word gymnazo, which means to exercise and to discipline and condition yourself like you would at a gym. He’s telling us we don’t grow stronger in our faith by arguing with people. Instead we grow strong through repetition of spiritual disciplines like prayer, reading our Bible and using the gifts God’s given us. It isn’t easy and it will cost you something to train yourself to be godly.
Hebrews 12:11 says, “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” The writer reminds us that being disciplined is costly and unenjoyable at times, but it produces the strength we need. Like doing reps in the gym, we must be repetitious in our obedience, our surrender to the Spirit over our flesh and in our disciples. The good news is that there are blessings promised to us for sticking with it. We reap the harvest of spiritual growth, spiritual strength and living the way God asks us to. Don’t give up in your training or make excuses why you can’t today. Keep training for godliness.
Photo by Oswald Elsaboath on Unsplash
