“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.” (1 Timothy 4:8, CSB)
No one doubts the benefits of regular exercise. Doing it is another matter, but let’s not go there now. Whether aerobic or weight training, exercise increases stamina and strength. We see the same effects in our mental capacity. If we work puzzles, think about complex matters, or read something that engages our brains, we become sharper mentally and have better memory recall. As we read above, the same concept is true of our new life in Christ.
As we intentionally engage with the right foot/left foot steps of learning and doing the truths of God’s Word, we grow towards godliness and holiness. The Bible says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8, CSB)
Let’s define things a bit. Godliness is growing to be like God as in “God likeness.” That doesn’t mean we become God, but that His ways become our ways as we draw nearer to Him. Holiness means being set apart, to be something other. The utensils of the Tabernacle in Exodus were holy because they had been set apart for service. There is also a purity in holiness.
Godliness and holiness, however, are not about behavior, performance, or sin management. Jesus warned the Pharisees, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside of it may also become clean.” (Matthew 23:25–26, CSB) This is not one of those “fake it until you make it” moments. You don’t do holy things to become holy. You do holy things because you are holy. We walk away from sin because it is incompatible with who we are in Christ.
The enemy of this pursuit of godliness and holiness is pride. Many have taken this path only to fall into the ditch, tripped up by pride and judgmentalism. Instead, we must “Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5–8, CSB)
The promise is that He will draw near to us as we draw near to God. We will be more sensitive to the needs around us and how to bring the light of God’s love to bear. We will have a settleness of soul marked with peace and rest in Christ. We will grow in faith and trust that God is in control.
Other verses for this promise (Compiled by David Wilkerson)
- 1 Timothy 4:8
- Romans 12:2
- Philippians 4:7
- James 4:8
- Psalm 85:13
- Proverbs 21:21
- Jeremiah 6:16
- Proverbs 11:18
- Psalm 5:12
- Isaiah 35:8
- John 12:46
- Psalm 15:1-2
- Psalm 11:7
- 2 Chronicles 16:9
- 1 John 3:21
- Psalm 37:18
- Romans 8:6
- Psalm 119:1
- Proverbs 11:20
- Proverbs 2:7
- 1 Samuel 2:30
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