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The Pastor's Pen
Words Of Inspiration From Our Pastor
But refuse
profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto
all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which
is to come. (1st Timothy 4:7, 8)
I have written this week with the help of the Lord about Maintaining
Spiritual Fitness. As we begin the new year of 2012 we see a lot of
commercials about diets, and fitness programs, and fitness equipment.
What they are trying to do is remind all of us that we need to lose
a few pounds. And it is true that we gain more weight because of our
extra eating for the holidays. There is nothing wrong with diet and
exercise and trying to maintain a certain weight so that we can keep
our natural bodies healthy, and well, and fit. But we need to make sure
also that our soul is healthy and that we are maintaining spiritual
fitness. The Apostle John wrote to the elder well beloved Gaius, whom
he loved in the truth, and said Beloved (dearly loved), I wish above
all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul
prospereth (3rd John 1:1, 2). He was saying to Gaius prosper and be
in good health in your soul. We need both a healthy body, and a healthy
soul.
Our text (1st Timothy 4:7, 8) was written by the Apostle Paul to Timothy,
his son in the faith, from Macedonia during the interval between his
first and second imprisonment in Rome about 64 or 65 AD. His purpose
for writing to him was his special concern for Timothy. Their relationship
was close and special. Paul first met Timothy in Lystra (Acts 16:1 -
5), and he trained him for the ministry, and Timothy was his travelling
companion on his missionary journeys. This epistle was written to help
Timothy in his pastoral duties and also it contains instructions for
his church. The Apostle Paul wanted to encourage Timothy, his son in
the gospel, and to warn him against false teachers who were teaching
heresy (any opinion opposed to established views or orthodox doctrines
of the church). In (1st Timothy 4) Paul speaks about the latter times
(the last days) when apostasy, and hypocrisy, and asceticism (?-set-?-siz'm)
would prevail. Asceticism is the teaching that the mortification of
the physical body and renunciation of physical comforts are necessary
to attain a higher spiritual state of holiness. Such as forbidding to
marry, and commanding to abstain from meats. Read (1st Timothy 4:1 -
5).
There is a physical fitness program that involves eating certain foods
and this includes meats which will make your physical body healthier
and fit, but this does nothing for one's soul. One is not connected
to the other. One is natural and the other is spiritual. (1st Timothy
4:7) says, But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself
rather unto godliness. Webster defines the word EXERCISE like this;
activity for developing of the body or mind and also to put into us
as to develop or train. The Apostle Paul was telling Timothy, his son
in the gospel and "us" to reject false doctrine, and teachings,
and heresy. This doctrine of self-denial in our physical body will not
elevate us and help us to attain a higher spiritual state of holiness.
This can only come by exercising ourselves unto godliness. We become
more spiritual by exercising unto godliness. We become more spiritual
by exercising unto godliness or holy living in our lives. We need spiritual
exercise so that we can become spiritually strong and fit. We need to
develop and maintain a spiritual mind. We need to train ourselves to
walk with God according to his holy word. The Apostle Paul told Timothy
and "us" to be an example of the believers, in word, in conversation
(manner of life and conduct), in charity (agape love), in spirit, in
faith, in purity. Then he said, Till I come, give attendance to reading,
to exhortation, to doctrine. Make personal Bible study, church attendance,
and Sunday school a major part of our daily routine. Make them part
of our spiritual maintenance fitness program. Read (1st Timothy 4:12,
13). The thing that will make our spiritual fitness program work is
not only exercising ourselves unto godliness or holiness but also it
is eating spiritual food.
Let me interject right here the necessity of eating the word of God;
and we must also digest it, and assimilate it into our lives and our
system. We will never become spiritually fit until the word of God becomes
a part of us. We must get the word of God off of the pages of the Bible
and into our hearts and our minds. (Hebrews 5:13, 14) says, For every
one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he
is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even
those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both
good and evil. In order for us to grow and develop we must make God's
word a part of our spiritual fitness program, and not only to grow from
a babe in Christ to a fully grown mature saint, but we also need God's
word to maintain our spiritual fitness on a daily basis.
Then the Apostle Paul writes in (1st Timothy 4:8) For bodily exercise
profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having
promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. A natural
fitness program does profit a little and keeps our bodies in good shape,
but maintaining a spiritual fitness program by exercising ourselves
unto godliness, piety, and holiness is good for this life and gives
us also the hope of eternal life!
Prepared by District Elder Charles L. Smith, D.D.
January 15, 2012
