Exercising Thyself Unto Godliness
How is your exercise routine? Primarily, I am not referring to physical exercise, though, of course, it does have its time and place in our lives. Too often society places unreasonable or unfair expectations on us. While we may feel better about ourselves when we are in better shape, feeling like we can never achieve our weight loss goals or please others with the way we look physically can take an ongoing toll. Plus, we must not expect to be able to maintain or achieve the condition we had in our twenties with our actual condition in middle age or even later years. Our bodies do age and don’t work the same way they once did when we were younger - including our metabolisms. Many of us also have developed health issues as the years went on - whether from aging, or perhaps even as the result of accidents or of things that have happened to us throughout the years.
Whatever your physical condition, your spiritual condition is so much more important in the eyes of God (regardless of what expectations others may place on you).
1 Timothy 6:5-8 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
Are you spiritually flabby or getting in better shape as time goes on? Here are some helpful Bible principles about Spiritual Exercises:
1) Don’t exercise yourself in great matters.
Don’t allow anything in your spiritual life that would make you proud or cause you to take your eyes off of the Lord.
Psalms 131:1 A SONG OF DEGREES OF DAVID. LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Be steadfast - focussed - on the Lord, day by day - EVERY day.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Matthew 17:8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
Keep looking unto Jesus - keep your eyes on Him alone.
2) Exercise lovingkindness and other characteristics that show Christ living in and through you.
Follow your Saviour’s example if you want to please Him each day.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
Strive to be like your Lord. Exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in your dealings with others. Follow other believers as they follow the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
If they are not living separated and holy lives, be careful with how much time you allow yourself to spend with them. This verse is still in the Book:
1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
3) Exercise a pure conscience.
Do what you know is right each day. Abstain from all things that your conscience convicts you of. Choose, like Paul, to have a clear conscience void of offence towards God and towards others.
Acts 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
Too often believers ignore the warnings of their conscience and get themselves into trouble.
1 Timothy 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
1 Peter 3:15-17 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
1 Timothy 1:4-6 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
This last passage also ties in with our next point. Let’s strive to be pure, sincere, genuine, with words that match our profession of faith.
4) Exercise godly and edifying speech.
Only be involved in conversations that edify and spiritually build up you and your fellow believers; ones that help remind them of the Word of God and help them to understand it - not ones that lead to endless arguments, or to doubting and questioning God’s Word.
1 Timothy 4:7-9 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
Proverbs 15:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Proverbs 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Is your conversation edifying? Does it build up and strengthen others? Or are you exercising your tongue for evil?
5) Exercise discernment.
We grow in discernment by applying God’s Word to ALL areas of our lives. The Bible is to be our gauge, our measuring rod in ALL things.
Hebrews 5:12-14 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Are you a spiritual babe in Christ, or are you a maturing believer, growing in your faith in Christ?
1 Peter 2:2-3 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Many do not like to critique their entertainment, their choice of friends, or even their intake of spiritual food, but we are commanded to base our whole lives upon what God has already told us in His Word.
1 Corinthians 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
We have all heard the popular phrase, “Eat the meat and spit out the bones.” In general, that is a good idea. If you are reading a relatively solid Christian book or hearing a basically good sermon, throw out the little bits that don’t seem to fit with God’s Word. However, if the writer or preacher is a heretic, a false brother, someone that is presenting a very skewed version of the truth, stop listening to them!
Proverbs 19:27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
Stop listening to teaching that is against the Lord and His Word - or you may find that what you intended to be a beneficial part of your spiritual diet is in fact poison that will ultimately affect your spiritual walk for evil.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
6) Be exercised by God’s correction.
Remember, God corrects you because He loves you. Let His correction achieve its intended purpose by making those areas of your life right that He is chastening or correcting you for.
Hebrews 12:7-13 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Dealing with the sin in our lives makes us holy, stronger in our spiritual walks, and more like the Lord Jesus Christ - which should be the end result of all our spiritual pursuits.
Spiritual exercises (in the context of this devotional) transform our lives, draw us closer to the Lord, and make us vessels fit for His use.
2 Timothy 2:19-21 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
Are you striving to cling closely to the Lord, keeping short accounts. We all have moments where we struggle or temporarily take our eyes off the Saviour, but after being corrected, are you making straight paths for your feet, pulling up the slack in your spiritual life?
Are you exercising yourself unto godliness in all things?
A worthwhile pursuit indeed!
April 12th, 2025
Jerry Bouey
(with some verse suggestions and input from my Sis)
