Thoughts For Today

“Bodily exercise profits little; but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1Timothy 4:8).   With every New Year there are always resolutions that we make to ourselves, promising that we will improve our health, get rid of bad habits, exercise more and eat less.  The list goes on and on.  The above verse tells us that bodily exercise profits little, but godliness is profitable to all things.  However, godliness in itself takes much work and if you will, exercises. How does God exercise us?  Ecclesiastes 3:10 shows us that God does indeed work us out: “I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.”  Tough times work us out, but it is through the trials and testing that we have the opportunity to really grow in godliness.  It is during these times that we are challenged to grow spiritually like never before.  Acts 24:16 expounds upon this matter: “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God and men.” Offenses will come, but if you are in position to stretch spiritually, you can exercise yourself unto godliness and not get caught up in being offended or any other test you may be in.  Hebrews 12:11 sums it up perfectly, “Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”  Like physical strengthening, you may experience pain while exercising yourself unto godliness, but your reward will be great in this life and that which is to come.  The peaceable fruit of righteousness is yours. Let God be your personal trainer and exercise yourself unto godliness.