Promise of the Present and Beyond
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…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. – 1 Timothy 4:7-8
Daybreak. A hot cup of coffee—two creams, no sugar. A comfortable chair. A light breeze pushes the first morning light through an open window. I take a sip of the consoling brew still warm courtesy of some newfangled metal coffee mug with a clever name. My soul drinks in the blissful solitude.
Why would I want to be anywhere else? To be honest, the greater part of me would not. Yet, I wait for the nudge—the slow-burning ember of coffee mug fame that will spark a fire that propels me out of this chair and lands me in the cold waters of our local YWCA pool doing laps and water jacks within the hour.
Why? Because I have learned obeying that nudge to get my body up and moving early will build the strength I need to carry me through this day and the days to come. Without this morning discipline, I am sure to arrive each evening sore and spent. This practice, set on repeat, is my strategy to physically win the day, and since Paul tells young Pastor Timothy that training our bodies is a good idea, I know I’m onto something.
But Paul keeps going as Paul so often does, and reminds us that training our inner man for godliness—aka stoking the fires of spiritual discipline—is even better. It not only holds
“Promise for the present” (that stuff we need to win the day at a deeper level) but promise for eternity as well.
Again, here’s Paul with value-packed encouragement for this soul-strengthening work-out:
Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly, we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:16-17)
What is one way this renewal takes place? By diligently employing—in momentary troubles or not—such spiritual disciplines as prayer, Bible study, memorizing and meditating on Scripture, worship, practicing gratitude, fellowshipping with other believers, keeping the Sabbath, and serving where God has placed us.
The intentional disciplines that draw us closer to Christ, strengthen our spiritual muscles, and bring purpose to each day can be abundantly found in the pages of God’s Word. Definite motivation to get up and out of our spiritual recliners to discover what’s waiting there.
But no one will do it for us. We can sit and sip our spiritual life until our mug grows cold, wondering why our faith is floundering, or we can head to the deep pool of God’s provisions for a life we can’t wait to plunge into each morning. The choice is ours.
Questions for Reflection:
1. Where will you jump in? Which of your spiritual muscles feels weak? In what intentional way can you begin to strengthen them this very day?
2. Now, since your body is God’s temple, what can you do today that will help keep it in the best working order possible for His glory and your enjoyment? Feel that nudge?
