“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”
- 1 Timothy 4:8
Professional athletes, or even everyday individuals embarking on a journey to improve their physical fitness, are required to dedicate time and effort to train for hours to achieve the optimal results they aim for. It requires regular practice, guidance and coaching, dedication, focus, will and intention. In order to get stronger, and improve on flexibility and mobility, one has to complete series of exercises, workouts, or training regiment repeatedly to strengthen and stretch muscles. It requires eating right, resting properly, and studying to help one progress. Training to achieve results is not easy, the journey can be fraught with challenges and setbacks.
In the same way, our faith, our spirituality, and our godliness requires training. Even though it is by the grace of God that we are saved, our desire to live like Christ requires dedication and practice. We mature in Christ through our daily and regular submission to God's will.
In this chapter in 1 Timothy, it discusses what it means to be a good servant of Jesus Christ our Lord, there is the essential lesson of not wasting time arguing on frivolous things, but instead be ready to work hard and continue to struggle, "for our hope is in the living God, who is the Saviour of all people and particular of all believers".
Reflection: How will you train your godliness? Have you ever felt as though there were struggles or setbacks in your faith? How will you recover and practice your faith to become stronger in your path to live like Christ?
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This insightful article for Christian Calm Radio was written by Karyn Lau. Listen to devotional Christian music, Christian instrumental music and worship music, hymns and psalms, and Old and New Testament audiobooks on Christian Calm Radio.