READING: 1 Timothy 4
I first heard 1 Timothy 4:8– “For the training of the body has limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” – quoted by a pastor who was intentionally ridiculing any sense of physical exercise. He himself was not in the best shape, and it was as if he were granting himself permission to make no improvements. After all, what matters most is godliness, he said, since that commitment affects eternity.
What he missed was the fact that God had given him his body as well, and he was to be a wise steward of everything God gave him. While it’s true that this body will decay and then be resurrected and changed, that promise grants us no permission to ignore the gift of our current body. The sovereignty of God notwithstanding, we often weaken our witness and perhaps even hasten our death when we don’t take care of ourselves. Thus, proper exercise, eating, and sleeping are part of being a Christian disciple.
This week, make sure you’re taking care of yourself. Even one step can make a difference.
PRAYER: “God, I commit myself to exercise this week, eat well, and get rest.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Deuteronomy 32-34; Luke 5:1-26