A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Tuesday, October
30, 2018
Daily
prayer:
Father, we know there is a deeper work
within our soul which cannot be
accomplished by mere physical
exercise. Just as we maintain our
bodies to submit to a rigorous routine
of endurance, abstinence, and
sacrifice, we must apply the same
maintenance tools to bring our spirits
into submission to Your will for our
lives. We must train ourselves to be
godly. Though physical training is of
value in this life, godliness has
value for all things, and holds
promise not only for the present life
but also the life to come. Help us to
pursue this noble task in Jesus name
we pray. Amen.
The
Golden Gate Bridge walkway (from the south side)
"We
Are Not Maintenance-Free"
Note:
This week we are gleaning lessons from
observations we made while walking across
the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
Message
summary: Today I encourage you to
recognize that your life, both
physical and spiritual is not
maintenance-free. We must "exercise
self-control in all things" (1
Corinthians 9:25) and "train
yourself to be godly". A
foundational component of this
maintenance is the implementation of
God's Word to our hearts so that it is
carried out in our actions. Remember, in
regard to the pursuit of godliness, we
are always in maintenance mode!
Listen
to our message
on your audio player.
"Train
yourself to be godly. For physical
training is of some value, but
godliness has value for all things,
holding promise for both the present
life and the life to come" (1
Timothy 4:7b,8).
The
Golden Gate Bridge was built in just
over four years from 1933-1937 during
the Great Depression. A rough estimate
of the $76 million dollars the bridge
cost (including interest) in 1933 is
over $1.2 billion in 2007 dollars.
Some 60,000 southbound toll paying
vehicles cross the bridge daily at
$8.00 per car (some $40.00 for
trucks). Do the math and that
generates a lot of income.
When
any amount of fee is this large
there's a lot of people who wonder
where all the money goes (the original
cost of the bridge with interest has
been paid off since 1971). However I
don't live there so the $8.00 I paid
to cross back into the city was worth
it as a tourist visiting every ten
years or so!
However,
undoubtedly a lot of money is required
for maintenance. The bridge is
constantly being maintained. When we
walked across the bridge there were
workers performing maintenance work
under a tarp (see photo above)*. With
exposure to the harsh elements the
bridge is certainly not
"maintenance-free".
"Maintenance-free"
is a quality we value in life. We
especially see this term used in
building materials. We have brick over
several sides of our home which
requires very little maintenance and
vinyl siding over other parts and
these components may be considered
maintenance-free and last my lifetime
but certainly not forever!
We'd
like to be in a condition where our
lives are maintenance-free but that
would be a figment of our imagination.
From conception on our lives have
required maintenance. The same is true
for our spiritual nature.
The daily Scripture portion is an allusion to sports. Paul writes, "train yourself to be godly". The NASV uses an expression that has blessed me over the years, "Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness."
The daily Scripture portion is an allusion to sports. Paul writes, "train yourself to be godly". The NASV uses an expression that has blessed me over the years, "Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness."
Surely
the apostle Paul is speaking here of
maintaining the spiritual development
and disciplines we volitionally
participate in that contribute to a
growth in godliness. This maintenance
includes Bible reading and study,
Scripture memorization, prayer and
praise, church participation,
Christian service and other forms of
spiritual discipline.
"Train" translates the Greek word (gumnaze) from which we get the English word "gymnastics". It indicates a present, ongoing action we participate in and is strongly enjoined upon us.
"Train" translates the Greek word (gumnaze) from which we get the English word "gymnastics". It indicates a present, ongoing action we participate in and is strongly enjoined upon us.
The
verse continues, "Physical
training is of some value".
Our bodies are the temples of the Holy
Spirit so properly caring for our
physical nature is a means of
glorifying God.
But comparatively speaking physical training is of little value in relation to spiritual training expressed in the phrase, "Godliness has value for all things". Godliness impacts every area of our personal life; our family, our church, our work and our society at large. And this godliness holds "promise for both the present life and the life to come".
A linguistic resource I use has a powerful thought on this point: "It is not the self-centered aesthetic struggle of the individual for his own moral and religious perfection, but the training necessary for the unhindered pursuit of God's purposes. This exercise was a vigorous development and application of all Paul's strength and ability that he might bring glory to God with every thought and action." *2
Today I encourage you to recognize that your life, both physical and spiritual is not maintenance-free. We must "exercise self-control in all things" (1 Corinthians 9:25) and "train yourself to be godly". A foundational component of this maintenance is the implementation of God's Word to our hearts so that it is carried out in our actions. Remember, in regard to the pursuit of godliness, we are always in maintenance mode!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
But comparatively speaking physical training is of little value in relation to spiritual training expressed in the phrase, "Godliness has value for all things". Godliness impacts every area of our personal life; our family, our church, our work and our society at large. And this godliness holds "promise for both the present life and the life to come".
A linguistic resource I use has a powerful thought on this point: "It is not the self-centered aesthetic struggle of the individual for his own moral and religious perfection, but the training necessary for the unhindered pursuit of God's purposes. This exercise was a vigorous development and application of all Paul's strength and ability that he might bring glory to God with every thought and action." *2
Today I encourage you to recognize that your life, both physical and spiritual is not maintenance-free. We must "exercise self-control in all things" (1 Corinthians 9:25) and "train yourself to be godly". A foundational component of this maintenance is the implementation of God's Word to our hearts so that it is carried out in our actions. Remember, in regard to the pursuit of godliness, we are always in maintenance mode!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, we know there is a deeper work
within our soul which cannot be
accomplished by mere physical
exercise. Just as we maintain our
bodies to submit to a rigorous routine
of endurance, abstinence, and
sacrifice, we must apply the same
maintenance tools to bring our spirits
into submission to Your will for our
lives. We must train ourselves to be
godly. Though physical training is of
value in this life, godliness has
value for all things, and holds
promise not only for the present life
but also the life to come. Help us to
pursue this noble task in Jesus name
we pray. Amen.Today's
Suggested
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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