2006 Winter Olympics
Hello everyone. Greetings from the Rockies!
I know it has been a balmy 75 or 80 degrees for those of you in LA the past few days. It has been “warm” here, too. We’ve had high 50’s. But tomorrow we should have some snow! And it should look a little more like winter.
It will be much colder in Northern Italy tomorrow. Especially over by the French border, in a little town called Torino. The 2006 Winter Olympics begin tomorrow in that part of the world. Gathered there will be the most highly trained athletes in the world and most of them will be wearing Spandex.
These men and women have trained for years of their life in order to be in Northern Italy tomorrow. That is a formidable goal and an even more impressive accomplishment. Allow me to share with you what the Bible says about physical training.
Paul uses this phrase five times in the Bible: “The saying is trustworthy…” and sometimes he adds to it, “and deserving of full acceptance.” This phrase is only used by Paul in the entire Bible and is only used five times – showing us that he is announcing a key doctrine. These were probably sayings that were well known throughout the church and made up the most basic gospel truth. In 1 Timothy 4:9 we read the full phrase. Here is the context:
1 Timothy 4:7-10: 7 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. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
The word Paul uses for “training” in verse 8 signifies rigorous, self-sacrificing that athletes undergo. And he grants that it has some value. Certainly we are told to take care of our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) and I do not condone a lazy attitude towards physical health or exercise. But I agree with Paul here: godliness is of value in *every* way. Godliness is simply godly living – living like God. The path towards godliness is the self-sacrifice, the spiritual self-discipline much like the arduous path an athlete would take to get to the Olympics. Paul exhorts us in verse 7 to train ourselves for godliness. It is hard. We will need to “toil and strive” (verse 10). It will take a lifetime. But, while the Olympics last for 16 days, our training will go towards the “life to come” which is – hello? – eternal life! It will last forever. Right on!
How do we train for godliness? This, my friends, starts with knowing God. To live like God, to be like Him – we must know Him. And the most basic way to know Him is to immerse yourself in the Bible. I recommend that you start reading the Gospel of Matthew. Read chapter one today. Tomorrow, read chapter two. When you finish Matthew, turn the page to the Gospel of Mark. Read one chapter a day. Do this for the Gospels of Luke and John, as well. That should take you about three months, if you do it every day. Then, start over with Matthew 1. Think about it. The most detailed information about our Savior is composed in these four books. At this pace, you will read through each of them four times a year. I promise that if you do this for a year or even a month, you will know God more. Your picture of Jesus will become clearer. He is the example of godliness on earth. Read about Him. Know Him. Be like Him. That is the beginning to “train yourself for godliness.” I will be reading with you and praying for you.
I love you all. Enjoy Jesus.
-z
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