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 What is your impression of the word, Practice? Do you practice until you get it right, do you practice so that you know your job backwards and forwards? In professional work it is said that the practitioner has a Practice. Within the context of my profession, I have a practice, but I don't know everything there is to know.
In order to grow in a profession, one must frequently train. I recently sat for two days in seminars and earned continuing education credits. A mechanic must undergo training to keep up with technology.
We must keep up with the times and continually learn new things. If we don't we may not earn as good a living. I have a goal of learning something new every day and, while that may not happen, I look forward to the joy of discovery.
I am nearly finished reading the book of 1 Timothy, and am captivated by a phrase in the fourth chapter. In the NIV version of the Bible it says, train yourself to be godly. In The Message the verse reads, Exercise daily in God. I think there is more to the word godliness, and even more to training in godliness. Just as there is compensation from our work; there is compensation from godliness. While exercise keeps our body physically fit, so also, training in godliness keeps our lives spiritually fit and leads to the joy of living. What we do in training for godliness is valuable for life today, and for the life to come. Should we not begin our Training for Eternity with godly lives based on faith, love, and purity?
In the sixth chapter Paul said to Timothy that he should continue godly training by pursuing, faith, love, patience, steadiness, and gentleness. When we pursue godliness, we begin to grasp Eternity, the problems of today will appear smaller, and our future with Christ grows brighter. With this kind of future thinking we become rich in good deeds, generous with our time, and our money. Through generous sharing we send our treasure ahead. Our training in godliness becomes our Training for Eternity. As a result we have a firmer hold on life-experiencing joy and overwhelming grace.
A friend of Jesus,
Gary Kallio
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