Daily Bread_May 27, 2014

Title: What Type of Training Is Best?

Text:

1 Timothy 4:6-11 (HCSB)
⁶ If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and the good teaching that you have followed. ⁷ But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness, ⁸ for the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. ⁹ This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. ¹⁰ In fact, we labor and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, especially of those who believe. ¹¹ Command and teach these things.

Observation:

When it comes to my passion for physical exercise and spiritual exercise, what is first is non-negotiable; spiritual exercise wins hands down. For me verse 8 of the text settles it.

1 Timothy 4:8 (NLT)
⁸ "Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come."

Physical exercise and spiritual exercise require at least two things in common; discipline and devotion. How effective would your church be if its members put as much effort into spiritual exercise as athletes put into physical exercise?

How strong is your desire for godliness? Think about this; the prize has a price. Are you willing to pay the price? I'm running for the prize and aiming for the victor's crown. Are you running to win?

Philippians 3:13-14 (HCSB)
¹³ Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, ¹⁴ I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus.

Prayer:

Father God, help me and all of your children to see the value in this life, and for all of eternity the benefits of spiritual exercise. Lord, help us, by your power, to be more disciplined and dedicated. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/