Out of Shape
“Just like an athlete exercises self-control, so should we. Olympic athletes train for years to have a chance to win a brief moment of glory. We discipline ourselves to receive an eternal crown of glory. Well, what might that look like spiritually?” – Pastor Tony Walliser
Read Proverbs 25:28
Out of Shape
“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
– 1 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV
I’m a gym guy.
No, I’m not one of those body builder guys lifting heavy weights and drinking their body builder solutions that are often seen in the gym. I’m more of a gym rat, I guess. Always have been – for as long as I can remember.
I’m the kind of gym guy that usually finds a way to get there most every day or evening to sweat, to use the elliptical, ride the bike, lift some weights, stretch, and swim. The kind of guy that gets the most out of every workout. I do it to keep my mind sharp, to relieve stress, and to keep my body at least somewhat physically fit.
However, of late, I’ve been unable to get there more than I have attended. Thus, have done very little, except for an occasional gym visit or garage workout.
And I find myself getting soft… pudgy… and out of shape.
In today’s passage, Paul extols Timothy to “train yourself to be godly.” Paul goes on to express that there is value for physical training, “but godliness has value for all things…”
Through this letter, Paul is reminding us to be self-controlled and train to be a champion of the faith. He’s reminding us to value growth and the strengthening of our faith even more than we might value the gym and all of its benefits. Reminding us to train ourselves to be godly and not to just train intermittently, but train even more and better than the gym rat in us would train our bodies for competition.
Paul’s telling us to stop being soft… pudgy… out of shape in our faith and to tighten up, strengthen, solidify our faith on a daily basis. Reminding us to do what it takes to know Jesus more ~ spend time in the Word, spend time in prayer, spend time in worship.
Even more than we may want to spend time in the gym. Even more than we may want to push and sweat.
“Train yourself to be godly…”