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Exercising for Godliness

Are we as disciplined as we should be?

... exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

  - 1 Timothy 4.7, 8
But if, then, such and so many pains are borne untiringly for temporal and unsure rewards, what ought we to endure for eternal, true and sure ones, whose conclusion is eternal?

  - Columbanus, Sermon IV, Irish, 7th century

Columbanus offered an observation about how people make their way in life. If you want to be a success in life, to enjoy your life, and the good things it can offer, you must apply yourself. Learn a trade, keep up a home, raise a family, improve at your work – all this requires “so many pains,” yet these are “borne untiringly” by anyone determined to get the most out of life.

And, Columbanus asked, if we are willing to discipline ourselves for the “temporal and unsure rewards” of this fleeting life, “what ought we to endure for eternal, true and sure ones, whose conclusion is eternal?”

Americans work hard and play hard. There is no end to the kinds of exertions people will put out to get ahead in their job, stay fit, or get the most out of their chosen avocation. American Christians are no exception. We know we have to work hard at our jobs, and we play hard at fitness, sports, and other avocations – just as hard as the next guy. We’re no different than our unsaved neighbors when it comes to the pursuit and enjoyment of “temporal and unsure rewards.”

But we should be. It’s not that we shouldn’t work hard at our jobs, exert ourselves at keeping fit, or enjoy our hobbies and avocations as fully as possible. The discipline and exertion we make toward these ends is not out of bounds for the believer. Rather, we must not give our best exertions to that which will fade with time. There’s more to life, especially, more to Christian life – “eternal, true and sure” rewards, which have as their ultimate destination, eternal life with Christ.

The state of discipline among the followers of Jesus Christ is apallingly low. We don’t pray as if prayer was our great delight, or really mattered. Reading, meditation, and study are, for too many of us, tedious, not as important as work, and not as much fun as video games, sports, TV, or other diversions. We don’t fast, worship, pursue solitude, seek the Kingdom, study the works of the Lord, or press on toward holiness with anything like what might be expected of people who believe the promises of Christ and long to partake of Him.

Are we lazy? Perhaps a bit. More likely, we just aren’t well taught, and we aren’t encouraged or held accountable for disciplined lives by those entrusted with the oversight of our souls.

The expectations church leaders hold out for us are neither demanding nor lofty. As long as we keep coming – to church, Sunday school, Bible study – and keep giving, do we or our pastors and church leaders really care about training in godliness? We may speak affirmingly about discipline – every Christian should read his Bible, pray, and study the things of the Lord. But, as we know, people don’t do what you expect, only what you inspect. If all our leaders intend to inspect is whether we show up and keep giving, that’s what we as church members will expect of ourselves – and not much more. And if we and our leaders find the numbers agreeable, we’ll do the same thing week after week, year after year.

But just showing up is no guarantee that we’re growing in the Lord or making progress in His Kingdom. Such aspirations require discipline, training, accountability, exertion, and time.

If we are going to exert ourselves – to exerc­ise – for godliness, we must resolve that such a course will define our lives from here on out, and fill the time of our lives with the kind of disciplines that can help us to realize more of the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God. Then we need to seek out disciple-makers who exemplify that way of life, teach it plainly and with passion, and lead their charges through the ropes and hoops of every spiritual exercise that can renew their souls and fit them for ministry.

That lacking, expect only more of the same mediocrity and comfortable Christianity that characterizes the Christian movement in our nation today.

We can grow in Christ, but not without effort – on our part, first of all, but on the part as well of those who are called to present us complete in Christ to our Savior and King (Col. 1.28, 29).

Psalm 116.7-14 (Mit Freuden Zart: All Praise to God Who Reigns Above)
Full well the Lord has dealt with me; my soul from death He delivered.
My weeping eyes, my stumbling feet, He has redeemed forever.
Forever I before His face shall walk with those who know His grace,
And dwell with them forever.

Afflicted, I believe His Word, though lying men would undo me.
What shall I render to the Lord for all His blessings to me?
Salvation’s cup I lift above and call upon the God of love
And pay my vows most truly.

Help me to lead a more disciplined life, O Lord, for Your sake, as well as for my own.

Get in the spiritual gym and work out!

Here are three excellent opportunities to begin shaping up your spiritual life by learning the disciplines of living and working for Christ. Our Mission Partners Outreach is a six-month regimen of study, prayer, meeting together, and learning to work your Personal Mission Field. We provide the resources, you and a friend supply the commitment, time, and devotion to one another. To learn more about this free training effort, click here.

Our free online course, Introduction to Spiritual Theology, provides a Kingdom setting for taking up the disciplines that can help you make steady progress in your journey of faith. Using brief videos and a variety of learning resources, you can study at your own pace, or with some friends, and gain the tools and discipline you need for a life of growing in the Lord. For more information or to register, click here.

Finally, I’m happy to send you the seven studies in our ReVision series on The Disciplined Life. Learn the disciplines to exercise you for godliness in you spiritual life, relationships, work, and more. They studies ar free, and set up for individual or group study, one lesson per day for seven weeks. Just send me an email, and I’ll send this series to you.

Will you seek the Lord?
And while you’re at it, remember that the Lord supports our work through the prayers and generous gifts of those who share our vision and are served by our ministry. As you seek Him in prayer, inquire whether He might be pleased to use you in this way. You can use the Contribute button at the website to give with a credit card or through PayPal, or you can send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction VT 05452. Thank you for prayerfully considering being part of this effort.

T. M. Moore
Principal
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All psalms for singing from The Ailbe Psalter. Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
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