Discipline Required
“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (NIV, 1984).
The titles are inviting. The One Minute Bible; Seven Minutes with God; or—if you don’t have seven minutes to spare—One Minute with God. The implication is clear. If you want a meaningful relationship with God, speed dating works. Going deep with God requires no more time or effort than preparing a daily bowl of oatmeal.
But is that true? Not according to Scripture. 1 Timothy 4:7-8 says growing in godliness is hard work. Negatively, growing in godliness requires recognizing and rejecting worldly myths and fanciful spiritual speculation. Positively, Paul says we must actively train ourselves to be godly. In verse 7, the word “train yourself” pictures an athlete subjecting himself to a strict course of physical discipline in pursuit of a goal. In verse 8, Paul acknowledges this kind of training has value. But only in this world. Spiritual training, on the other hand, is beneficial both in this life and in the life to come. In this world, believers who “train themselves to be godly” enjoy increasing fruitfulness for God and deepening intimacy with God (John 15:5-11). Additionally—in the new heaven and earth—God promises all who “train themselves to be godly” an abundant entry into heaven (2 Peter 1:11, NASB) along with eternal reward (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
How, then, do we train ourselves to be godly? The answer? By practicing what we call “spiritual disciplines.” These include disciplines related to the Bible—reading, hearing, studying, memorizing, meditating on, and obeying God’s Word in our daily lives. Equally important are the disciplines of prayer, church fellowship, and serving. To these we can add witness, solitude, submission and more. Too often we view these disciplines as legalistic duties rather than God’s gracious provision. Author Richard Foster reminds us that spiritual disciplines are a means of grace. He illustrates, “A farmer is helpless to grow grain; all he can do is provide the right conditions for the growing of grain. This is the way it is with the Spiritual Disciplines. …The Disciplines are God’s way of getting us into the ground; they put us where he can work with us and transform us. By themselves the Spiritual disciplines can do nothing; they can only get us to the place where something can be done. …God has ordained the Disciplines of the spiritual life as the means by which we place ourselves where he can bless us.”
Do you genuinely trust Christ as Lord and Savior? Are you intentional about answering his call to “train yourself to be godly”? Sure, one minute—or even seven minutes—with God is better than no minutes at all. Even so, at best it can only be a starting point. If an athlete sacrificially disciplines himself for the sake of an earthy crown, why wouldn’t we discipline ourselves for the sake of both earthly fruitfulness and heavenly reward?
Will you make time for God? Will you embrace God’s gift of spiritual disciplines? Will you put yourself in that place where you can receive everything God wants to do in you and give to you? In your daily walk with him, will you train yourself to be godly?