It’s the second week of January and you cannot find a bench or machine in the gym to work out on because it’s so crowded with people you have never seen before who have made new year resolutions to lose weight or get in better shape. By the end of the month, there will be more availability of benches and machines because many have given up on their resolutions mainly because other things in their life have taken up their time.

Working in the health industry as a personal trainer and as a retail manager who sells vitamins and supplements, I am all for people taking the bull by the horns and setting goals to reach concerning their health. But the main reason those do not last is because other priorities take over.

As much as it is important and wise to maintain one’s physical health, it is much more important to keep one’s spiritual health. Note the words of the apostle Paul to his son in the faith, young pastor Timothy.

“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

Is there value and profit in bodily training? Paul says there is some value. However, training yourself for godliness is more profitable because it is beneficial not only for this life but also for the life to come.

So what are some of the priorities and commitments necessary to “train yourself for godliness”?

  1. A priority and commitment to spiritual growth(2 Peter 3:18)
  2. A priority and commitment to the Word(1 Peter 2:2)
  3. A priority and commitment to prayer(Romans 12:12)
  4. A priority and commitment to serve the Lord in His church.(Romans 12:4-5, 11)
  5. A priority and commitment to invest in someone of the same gender in a discipleship relationship(2 Timothy 2:2)
  6. A priority and commitment to preach the Gospel to those around you that God has providentially placed in your life, whether it’s your co-workers, classmates, or neighbors(Romans 1:14-16)
  7. A priority and commitment as a man to shepherd your wife and children.(Ephesians 5:25-27; 6:4)

So, come the end of January, 2016, will you still be training yourself in godliness? Will you prioritize your own spiritual growth by your commitment to spend time in the Word and in prayer? Will you take up the mantle of discipling another? Will you serve the the Lord in His church? Will you be a messenger and herald of the King’s gospel? And will you pastor and shepherd your wife and children?

Will you step up to the plate in 2016?

Liked it? Take a second to support Hariton Deligiannides on Patreon!
Become a patron at Patreon!