Train Yourself

Thought For The Week 501

The value of regular exercise is constantly upheld as beneficial in multiple ways for both physical and mental health.  Did you know it’s also good for spiritual health?  Writing to his ‘son’, Timothy, the apostle Paul instructed, “Train yourself in godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7). The Greek word used here, gymnasia, refers to physical exercise or vigorous training. I pondered this recently.  How committed are we to the need for serious training in godliness or righteousness?  Apparently, it can be stressful at times, even difficult. The unknown author of Hebrews writes, “No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (12:11). 

Paul was passionate about the need for continual growth in this life of faith.  You’ll find many exhortations and instructions about it as you read his letters.  To the Philippians he wrote, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (2:12).  I pondered this for a long time.  If salvation was free, why did I need to ‘work it out’?  Eventually, research showed me some fascinating interpretations of the Greek words.  ‘Work out’ was used in the sense of ‘cultivate’ or ‘carry out to the goal’, while ‘fear and trembling’ was about ‘respect and watchfulness against temptation’.  After a while, with some input from the Amplified Bible, I attempted my own reconstruction of the verse:

“Cultivate your own salvation and bring it to completeness with respect and awe, watching against temptation seriously, with tenderness of conscience, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend Yahweh and discredit the name of Yahshua.”

What difficulties have you been experiencing lately?  Life ‘happens’, doesn’t it?  How many times have you wondered why Yahweh allowed those problems and hardships?  Training occurs as we learn (discipline ourselves) to trust in Yahweh’s faithfulness and hold fast to our knowledge of His goodness. We also need to take a proactive role in our training by developing our relationship with Yahshua and learning to yield ourselves to the leadings of the Holy Spirit.  We’re all different, needing to develop personal training initiatives, but don’t worry, the Holy Spirit is alongside, and He’s delighted help.

 

Photo by Drew Beamer on Unsplash

https://unsplash.com/photos/you-didnt-come-this-far-to-only-come-this-far-lighted-text-Vc1pJfvoQvY

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