⁷ But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; ⁸ for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:7 – 8 NASB

A Forgotten Word

Discipline is largely a forgotten word among God’s people. Convenience seems to be the order of the day. We will obey the Lord if it is convenient. We will spend time with Him if we can work it into our schedule. This largely explains the low level of spirituality and grace among us.

A Heart Issue

This also reveals a serious heart issue. In many ways the Lord Himself has become a mere convenience. He has become just one more thing tacked onto our busy lives in order to make them better. We often don’t feel we need Him, that is, in the sense we absolutely cannot live with out Him. Too often we really don’t even want Him. He is necessary only because we don’t want to go to hell when we die. Beyond that, we often view the Lord as more of a nuisance than anything.

Not the Way

This is not the way it was meant to be. God created us to walk with Him in all the realms of life. Only by doing so can we find our true selves, and become our true selves. Everything else is just a passing shadow; a vapor that will dissolve and be no more.

Choose the Better

We need to choose the better part, which is none other than the Lord Himself. We must heed the apostle Paul’s admonition and discipline ourselves for godliness. This alone is profitable today, tomorrow, and always. It is the conscious practice of living in the Reign.

M