ODB: An Exercise in Godliness
January 4, 2012
Love is godliness in action.
READ: 1 Timothy 4:6-11
Bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things. —1 Timothy 4:8
The New Year is often the time when we resolve to take better care of ourselves—to exercise, eat right, and perhaps shed some of the pounds we gained over the holidays. Paul says, “Exercise profits a little” (1 Tim. 4:8), so I struggle to be as fit as I can be. I try to eat right, more or less, though I do love fried chicken. I lift weights and walk, but I know that my body is not long for this world. Its strength is fading.
It’s better to concentrate on godliness, because it holds promise for this life and the life to come (v.8). Contrary to the old adage, we can take something with us after all.
Godliness may sound dull, scary, and unattainable, but the essence of godliness is simply self-giving love—caring more for others than we care for ourselves. This kind of love is hard to come by, but it’s one that grows in the presence of love. We grow loving and more lovely by sitting at Jesus’ feet, listening to Him, talking things over—gaining in likeness to the One who is love (1 John 4:8).
Life is a journey into love, it seems to me, and there’s nothing so beautiful as a godly soul. Physical exercise is good, no doubt, but there is something far, far better: It is to love.
— David H. Roper
Source: Our Daily Bread
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ODB: An Exercise in Godliness
January 4, 2012 READ: 1 Timothy 4:6-11 Bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things. —1 Timothy 4:8 The New Year is often the time when we resolve to take better care of ourselves—to exercise, eat right, and perhaps shed some of the pounds we gained over the holidays. Paul says, [...]
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Godliness is not dull or boring. Just that it involve disciplines just like exercises and self control for the body’s sake. Precisely, it is painful and stressful to the body muscles which we get to enjoy the effect of healthy living which we may take for granted on a daily basis.
On top of this, we may consciously need to abstain from unhealthy food, drink and activites in order not to cause harm to our body. The deprive feeling is understandable but the price to pay due to the consequences of neglect or unwise decision is even greater. We are not only hurting ourselves, our body but also hurting others who love us. This includes God who gives us life.
However, it will not take long for many of us to feel the changes or lack of strength to do the things we want when sickness strike from unwise chocies we have made on the earilier days of our lives.
As stewards of God, we are not only accountable to the resources at our disposal but also the body He has created.
Therefore, how we take care of our bodies as the temple of God is vital as much as we choose how we live our lives.