“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for 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. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.”

St. Paul

First Epistle to Timothy

Chapter 4, Verses 7-10

Discipline. To train or exercise.  That is the word Paul uses. The word used is the same as our English word “gym”.

Paul wrote to Timothy as he pastored in Ephesus. It was a city with stadiums.  Stadiums with athletes. Athletes were then, as now, the object of much fame and envy.  They worked when others rested. They persevered when others quit.  They achieved as others watched.  Those who watched saw the moment on the field, court, or mat.  They saw one great shot, an intense sprint to close distance, or the force of will and muscle to withstand an opponent.  Few saw the hours behind the labor.  We fantasize about the moment of athletic glory, but few daydream on the endless routine of exercise and endurance that precedes it.  As Coach Bobby Knight said, “the will to win is not nearly as important as the will to prepare to win.”

The hard work of training is not exclusive for world-class athletes.  For any of us who have labored for physical achievement, we know the work behind those words. The alarm goes off in the early hours before school or work, or perhaps when the day is done for most, there is the discipline of exercise for you.  In high school, I was wrestling captain.  That meant I was blessed with the opportunity to run, lift weights, and go to wrestling camp in the summer.  Years later, I have had times when I worked out — and it showed — and sometimes it did not, and a lot more showed.

In time, the body breaks down.  It aches, sickens, and, one day, fails no matter how much we work out. There is a value to being fit.  I have seen many of us at Terra taking diet and exercise more seriously in the last few years.  There is a value to it.  It just is not as valuable as other things. That is not a call to laziness, but rather a call to perspective.  The Bible says, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”

In the weeks ahead, we will look to the Bible to find the disciplines that have been a part of those saints of God who have excelled in the moments we have seen.  Some are famous men and women of faith, some everyday heroes and mentors.  Like the athlete in the stadium, all who stood strong in their faith, who finished well, who lived godly, also trained with dedication.

The hours of Bible reading, study, and memory; the effort to use the resources of a life to matter for greater things; the seeking, living and speaking of life in Christ as a dedication — those were found on the well-worn pathway to encourage godliness.  There is no guarantee of godliness in simply performing these disciplines.  There is guaranteed failure without them.  We could work mechanically, inconsistently, or with poor motives.  We are commanded to discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness, holiness, and Christ-likeness.

Join us as we learn the disciplines of Bible in-take, stewardship, prayer, fasting and silence, evangelism, service and more.  There is nothing more important for which to train.

[series begins July 4th]