My wife and I have been trying to get outside and run or walk a bit more recently. The warmer weather is slowly fading and another winter is upon us. Sure we can, and hopefully will, be exercising in the winter time but it will be done indoors making running a bit more difficult (a hundred loops around the house no thank you). If we only decided to run or exercise when it was convenient it is likely we would not be doing much exercising at all. Why? All sorts of reasons. “It is a bit chilly outside today.” “The girls (our daughters) should probably have a nap first.” “We only have an hour before we need to be back and it probably isn’t enough time.” “My knee is bothering me a bit.” “We just ate lunch…or…I am hungry for lunch.” You get the idea. But if we want to care for our bodies, which are a temple of the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Cor. 6:18-20), we need to consistently exercise. If we have a goal of running in a race or a marathon then consistency is going to have to win the day over convenience.
What about the Christians growth in godliness? 1 Timothy 4:7-8 says, “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 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.” Bodily training is of some value and so it is good to consistently exercise and eat right-ish (I like pizza what can I say). But as Paul writes to Timothy here “godliness is of value in every way.” There are many ways to grow in godliness all of which we will not mention here today, but one way we will mention is consistently attending a gospel preaching, Bible believing, sacrament practicing local church. The writer of Hebrews says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb. 10:24-25). Not much has changed in two millennia where we still see “the habit of some” is to attend church when it is convenient rather than attending consistently and doing so sadly, to the detriment of their own growth in godliness. Why? All sorts of reasons. “It’s my only day to sleep in.” “My kid has a sporting event.” “It is football season and the Lions are playing in London so the game starts when I’d go to church.” “It’s a bit chilly outside today” (so in northern Michigan that means six months are out). “My kids nap time is right during service.” “We have somewhere to be right after service so let’s not push it and we’ll skip church this week.” Probably the most common answer of all, “We are busy.” “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” (1 Tim. 4:8). Your other “priorities” can be laid aside on the Lord’s Day since it is there that you NEED to be. Your growth in godliness is that important.
Always Giving Thanks 