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Daily Devotions

1 Timothy

1 Timothy 
Day 
Day 64

"Godliness is profitable for all things..."

Text: 1 Timothy 4:8

PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL EXERCISES

Sports were very much the focus in the days of the apostle Paul as in our days. Soldiers certainly had to keep themselves very fit or they would be vanquished in the battlefield. The apostle Paul saw a resemblance between physical and spiritual exercises.

“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 4:8

1. “For bodily exercise profits a little”

a) Is there “profit” (“gain”) in bodily exercise?
b) The answer is “Yes!”
c) The question is “how much?”
d) The simple answer is “a little” (oligos).
i) Health may be improved.
ii) Life may extend a little longer.

 

2. “But godliness is profitable for all things”

Godliness was already mentioned in the previous verse as a wonderful goal to work towards.

b) Does godliness have definite profit? The answer is “Yes!”
c) In comparison, godliness offers far greater benefit.
d) The effort put in towards achieving godliness will yield far more significant benefits.

 

3. “Having promise of the life that now is”

This is a reference to the regenerated life that God gives to everyone who finds faith in Jesus.

b) It begins with being “born again” (John 3:3).
c) Abundance of life is in mind (John 10:10).
d) This life is significantly blessed by God (Ephesians 1:3-14).
e) Godliness results in the outpouring of a great life that God desires to give to godly children.

 

4. “And of that which is to come”

a) The future of a godly person will be significantly blessed and sustained.
b) On top of a greatly blessed life on earth there is the promise of eternal life in Christ.