Profitable Training! (part 1 of 14)

Paul, encouraging the young evangelist, Timothy, exhorted. . .
"(7) Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; (8) 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 ESV)

Paul did not say there was no value in physical training. He acknowledged there is some. However, he pointed to the training in godliness as having value for not just the physical, but "in every way". Training in godliness holds promise not only for our present life, but also for the eternal life to come.

Over the past several months I have been receiving the benefits of physical exercise and a good diet. It has impacted me in a number of ways. In one of our recent Wednesday evening Bible studies, the congregation here helped me come up with a list of some of the benefits physical exercise provides. We then considered the spiritual parallels. The list of physical benefits included the following: good companions (social activity with others), strength is built, good for the heart, helps develop endurance, keeps one healthy, helps with mobility, is good for the mind (peace), helps one sleep better, is a good stress buster, works off fat, impacts self-esteem, is a good investment, and contributes toward a healthy appetite.

For the next thirteen days, I encourage you to meditate with me on the spiritual parallels to the things listed above. And if the focus brings to mind even other areas -- then all the better because the BENEFITS OF GODLINESS ARE GREAT!

Have a great day FOCUSING ON THE MOST BENEFICIAL TRAINING!
Carl
===========
[This focus was originally sent 08/29/2002 (edited some with passage changed to ESV)]

.

See other teEn-MAIL on Spiritual Health