Today, Monday August 9
Exercising Godliness
1 John 3:9-10 “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.”
In these first ten verses of 1 John 3 we find three reasons we should live a righteous and a holy life and love God. God the Father “so” loved us that we can be called His children. God the Son died for us to take away our sins and destroy the works of the devil. God the Holy Spirit is God’s seed that abides and lives in us so that we have the power to “practice” righteousness!
Jesus chose twelve men to be His disciples. A disciple is a “disciplined” one. One who disciplines himself to practice and exercise and follow the instructions of the person that they believe and trust in. For us to be a disciple of Jesus today means that we believe that He is only Way, the only Truth and the only One Who has eternal life.
When Jesus ask the twelve if they were going to follow the multitudes that left Him, because they found it too hard to understand His teachings and follow Him, Peter and disciples responded by saying, “To Whom shall we go, You have the Words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)
To be a disciple of Jesus today also means that we practice and exercise consistently by patiently doing those things that He has instructed us to do in His Word. Paul wrote to Timothy and told him, “If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. But reject profane and old wives' fables, and 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 4:6-8)
“Exercising godliness” means to go into training to practice and do those things that will build you up to be strong spiritually in the Lord. It would be just like going into the gym to exercise your body to be a strong and healthy individual, which Paul says profits a little. But godliness is doing those “God like” things that not only brings great blessings into your life but blesses and helps everyone you come into contact with!
Like Paul says, we receive the “promise of the life that now is…”, which means we begin to live the life that is real, complete and fulfilling and that is only found in our relationship and fellowship with Jesus Christ.
Today, are you “exercising godliness”? Don’t put it off! Go to the “spiritual gym” and start exercising by reading your Bible, praying and serving others by using your gifts, talents and resources “like God” teaches us to do by the example of Jesus!
God bless!
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