1 Timothy 4:6-11
6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 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. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 These things command and teach.
6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 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. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 These things command and teach.
Teaching straight and true from scripture is what a good minister of the gospel aims for. This comes out of one’s own feeding long and deep in sound teaching from time in the word of God, but also from carefully following what is found there. We are to outrightly refuse to listen to storytelling or other ungodly tales, but are instead to seriously pursue godliness in thought and behavior as an Olympic athlete in training. We know normal exercise helps us be physically fit, so how can we not focus more on the eternal fitness program of godly character training that conforms us to Christ beginning in the present? As it is written here, this is a worthy and faithful saying for us to stop and meditate on, not to simply acknowledge and move on without affecting how we live. These things should move us to labor and suffer for Christ’s sake as we trust and obey our living God and Savior. He called us out, not merely making salvation possible in Jesus Christ, but giving us the gift of faith to justifying righteousness in reconciliation with our Father in the Son. These things are what good servants minister through the gospel truth. We are to teach with authority for others to follow Christ and us in this doctrine.
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