Training for Godliness

It was unbearable. Experiencing agony like never before, I yearned for relief. Torture devices surrounded me and I didn't think I was going to escape alive. And I kept asking myself, "Is this some kind of plot to get me killed?" Needless to say, my first time working out in a gym was unforgettable.

To be clear, physical exercise is not entirely foreign to me, but it's a different ballgame when you use machinery that is made to work every muscle in your body. Still, I wanted to get in shape instead of just being a shape, and I knew that physical fitness could only be achieved through regular and rigorous training. Being physically fit doesn't happen accidentally--you have to put forth effort and stay with it. And this is exactly what Paul the apostle said about godliness in 1 Timothy 4:7b-8, "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."

Godliness is not something our sin-cursed bodies are accustomed to, and that is why believers must train for it. Walking the narrow road is strange to feet that have walked long on the wide road that leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13-14). Cultivating a holy heart that loves the Lord is foreign to a heart that has only known love for sin (Jer. 17:9). Because of this, we will never stumble into godliness. We can only attain it through grace-empowered effort and spiritual discipline.

Moreover, training for godliness sometimes hurts. Strains and aches are inevitable for gym goers because they are stretching and strengthening their muscles. Likewise, living a holy life will sometimes be painful as we stretch and strengthen our spiritual muscles. Godliness is costly, and it requires cross-bearing and repentance of sins that our wicked heart cherishes (Luke 9:23). But take heart: such spiritual pain always results in gain, just as muscle soreness from exercise yields greater muscle strength.

Training for godliness must be as consistent as a physical workout regimen, too. We can never take a break from prayer, Bible study, fellowship with the saints, evangelism, and discipleship. Just as muscles shrink without being constantly worked, our spiritual muscles will likewise weaken if they aren't used. The believer ought to make progress in the Christian life (Phil. 1:25; 1 Tim. 4:15), and progress requires that we keep moving and working.

Finally, training for godliness is much easier when you do so with other saints (Heb. 3:13; 10:25). I always work out with my wife, and she encourages me when I want to give up. And you will find the race of endurance easier to run when accompanied by fellow saints who can encourage, correct, and love you. Are you training for godliness? Are you "working out" your own salvation (Phil. 2:12)?