“Train yourself for godliness.”
- 1 Timothy 4:7

In the apostle Paul's letter to a young pastor named Timothy, he encourages him to train himself for godliness. This implies first of all, that godliness does not come naturally; and secondly, that Timothy can train himself to become godly. Paul is saying that Timothy should teach himself, to make himself fit, qualified and proficient for the sake of becoming more like Jesus Christ. Timothy was not born godly. He trained himself to become godly. To become godly is synonymous with becoming holy, sanctified, dying to sin and living to righteousness. It implies a process of growth, rather than an instantaneous experience. While justification is when God declares someone righteous by faith in Christ; sanctification is when God makes the believer more righteous in character.

So what does this mean for you? Well, are you training yourself for godliness? Yes, if you have trusted in Jesus Christ by faith, you are already justified in God's sight. The righteousness of Jesus has been given to you as a gift and nothing can ever change that. But what about your character? What about your lifestyle? Are you intentionally pursuing growth in your relationship with Jesus? Are you engaging in habits where you can become more like your Savior? Remember, godliness is not an accident. It is the result of the intentional pursuit of Jesus in our everyday lives. Plan for training. Pursue growth. Seek sanctification. Train yourself for godliness.

For Jesus,
Pastor Mark