Good timing, God!

God’s timing is occasionally amusing. Yesterday I had my second session with a personal fitness trainer. I want to regain strength and improve mobility so my body doesn’t weaken anymore than it already is. Today’s devotional reading is this section that Paul wrote to a young pastor:

“If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 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 4:6–8)

Here, the first use of ‘being trained’ means being nourished. The other instances of ‘train’ and ‘training come from the same Greek word that we get gymnasium and gymnastics. It means to discipline yourself. So I am hearing, “Nourish yourself in the Word of God. There is value in this life to go to the gym but being well-fed by God’s teaching is vital for life now and eternal life later.”

I’m not sure if Timothy was preoccupied at a gym and aiming for a buff body, but this can be a major preoccupation for some people. The nearby rec center is filled with all ages wanting slim, muscular bodies. Could it be that some of them are Christians and skipping Bible study and prayer so they can lift weights and skip rope?

My workout was hard for me but felt good. This could gain admiration from family and friends. I can imagine my clothes fitting better and having more energy. God warns me to keep this new venture in proper priority. I’m thinking of another warning about priorities that was specifically pointed to women:

“Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external — the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear — but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” (1 Peter 3:1–4)

Lest that misunderstood ‘s’ word upset me, it simply means to stop insisting on my own way all the time and be more like Jesus who always puts others first. Submission is only possible for those who are filled by the Holy Spirit. That said, the connection to the passage about bodily exercise is about priorities. Peter is not telling women to stop doing their hair or wearing nice clothes; he is telling me to not make that a priority. It is the same with going to a personal trainer. If I want to please God or even impress others, I am supposed to be adorned with the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, the spirit of godliness that by its presence declares that I am totally trusting Him.

Tozer emphasizes that godliness is like any other discipline or training; it requires practice that forms a habit. My husband models this in his generosity. He prays every time he sees a homeless person or beggar with a ‘help me’ sign. If God so indicates, he will turn around and drive out of his way to do whatever the Lord leads him to do. From this habit, he has a heart of compassion that convicts me. I’m more apt to suspect the person on the street has a Cadillac parked around the corner. Instead, I should be praying and following God’s leading.

^^^^^^^^^^

Lord, going to the gym is motivated by my own desires. Being a godly person must be motivated by the needs of other, whether a meal, a smile, a hug, or some money. First, I need to be more alert, but also less selfish and judgmental. Forming the habits of bodily exercise challenges me yet forming the habits of godliness is a greater challenge. Work in me so that the less important discipline reminds me of the more important and motivate me to keep at it. Both kinds of exercise will remind me of how out of shape I am!

Use it or lose it

Instead of exercise, I’d rather straighten cushions or even do the dusting, or at least read email. I’m like that with other stuff too. Instead of doing the ironing, I’d rather play a computer game. Instead of loading the dishwasher, I’d rather catch something on television. But procrastination is my biggest time-waster and exercise is the worst.

Sometimes I’m just lazy. Sometimes I’m not sure how or what to do next (just move it, silly). Sometimes I just want to do it perfectly and wind up not doing it at all. Most of the time I think about the sore muscles soon to follow and decide, “Tomorrow!”

Exercise is one example; my desk is another. Time management experts say that when paper comes in, look at it once and decide to either toss it, file it, or act on it. Piling it on my desk is not an option. They also say to prioritize and do those tough chores or the most unpleasant ones first. With them out of the way, other things are easier.

I know the rules. I still procrastinate.

The only thing that saves me is the satisfaction of checking off items from that dratted to-do list. One of my quilting friends uses the saying, “Finished is better than perfect” and I like her philosophy, but even so, I still put off finishing things for fear of not doing my best.

Procrastination spells disaster for spiritual growth too. Even saying that makes me shiver. I tend to think that once I know a truth, that is enough. God says otherwise; I need to obey it also, no matter how tough it is, or how unsure I am about the doing of it, or of the results.

Today I read 2 Corinthians 6: “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

I understand grace as a revelation from God that changes me to be more like Jesus. But what if He gives me that revelation and I sense a new way to think and act, but then don’t follow through? Isn’t this ‘receiving the grace of God in vain’?

The context of this passage suggests the original recipients had heard the Gospel but were hung up on living by rules, or depending on their good deeds, instead of living by the life of Christ who now lived in them. God had revealed truth to them but they didn’t prove they believed it by responding with action.

That is no different than God showing me how to resist temptation, for instance. I can agree with His revelation, can write about it, can even tell others what I’ve learned, then fall for the next temptation that comes along.

When God gives me grace, He may want me to teach it, or write about it, but never just file it, or put a check mark beside it, or put it off until tomorrow. Instead, I first must obey it. Just as 2 Corinthians 6 says, grace is very much like exercise—use it or lose it.