“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.”
1 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)
Part of my routine of late has been to get in a two-mile walk in the morning at least three to four times a week. It’s been interesting to find a community of walkers in our neighborhood who all walk around the same time. It’s been fun to wave, to greet, and to feel a sense of camaraderie with others as I try to keep my body healthy. The encouragement and feeling of community is something that’s good for me.
The truth is that I have typically been very disciplined in my spiritual exercise regimen over the years. This chapter-a-day blog will celebrate its 20 year anniversary next March. Spending time with God in the quiet, studying the Great Story, meditating on what it has for me each day is something that has become like breathing for me. I don’t even think about it. It just comes naturally.
Physical exercise, on the other hand, is something I have to consciously choose to do. Over the years I’ve had stops-and-starts. My weight has fluctuated. I go through a season of being disciplined and feeling the benefits of improved health, and then my discipline wanes.
As I have greeted my fellow walking community comrades in recent weeks, it strikes me that I’m probably not typical. I think more people are given to physical training more than they are to spiritual training.
In today’s chapter, Paul encourages his young protégé Timothy in this very subject. Paul urges Timothy to be disciplined in spiritual training that leads to godliness. The word for training he uses is the Greek word gymnaze from which we get the word gymnasium. Paul then references the physical training that the Greco-Roman Timothy knows quite well as everyone in that day was familiar with athletes training for the Olympic games in gymnasiums. Even in Paul and Timothy’s day, the Olympics were major event in the Roman Empire. Roman Emperors loved to leverage the spectacle and popularity of the Olympics to show off their prestige.
Paul leveraged the metaphor of athletes, training, games, and victory over and over again in his writings. It was one of his favorites, and the connection is very real. Training, whether physical, intellectual, or spiritual requires a conscious choice, regular discipline, and perseverance over time to realize the long-term benefits.
I’m reminded in the quiet this morning that God continually calls me to wholeness in body, mind, and spirit. Paul urges Timothy in spiritual training. He likewise urged the believers in Corinth their bodies were the Temple of the Holy Spirit and to take care of that Temple. He urged the believers in Rome to be transformed by training and renewing their minds.
Body, mind, and spirit. God reminds me that being a healthy follower of Jesus requires choice, discipline, training, and perseverance in all three areas.
It’s raining this morning, so no two-mile walk. Time to hit the gym.
If you know anyone who might be encouraged by today’s post, please share.
