1 Timothy 4:7–8, 10 (NIV)
“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come… That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.”
Men, God Is Not Calling You to Coast—He’s Calling You to Train
Paul didn’t write this to weak men. He wrote it to warriors in the making. The Christian life isn’t passive—it’s a daily grind. It’s spiritual weightlifting. It’s refusing to settle for shallow faith and instead becoming spiritually fit for eternal purposes.
The word Paul uses—“train”—comes from the Greek word gumnazō, the root of our word gymnasium. Roman athletes trained naked, shedding anything that could slow them down. In the same way, Christian men are called to strip off distractions—especially the pursuit of comfort, money, and worldly status—so we can run hard after Christ.
Discipline Is the Difference Between Excuse and Impact
Yes, physical training matters. Stay fit. But godliness training? That shapes you into a man who leads his home, church, and community with strength and humility. It’s the kind of man your wife trusts, your kids admire, and the devil fears.
God expects you to work out your salvation in two ways:
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Personally – becoming more like Jesus in thought, word, and action.
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Productively – making disciples and expanding God’s kingdom.
The Call to Train Is the Call to Lead
Every godly man labors and strives because his hope is in the living God, not in worldly approval or temporary success. That means:
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Add weight to the bar of obedience. Grow your discipline in prayer, Bible study, generosity, and evangelism.
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Push past comfort in your pursuit of Christ. Don’t settle for minimum effort.
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Lead others by example—training yourself, your family, and others to know, love, and follow Jesus.
Christian Men Aren’t Bystanders. They’re Builders.
You are not just a believer. You are a disciple under orders. You are a soldier under command. God didn’t save you to sit in the bleachers. He saved you to fight for righteousness, truth, and souls.
There is no retirement from your calling. Train hard. Die faithful.
RUN TODAY’S PLAY:
Take inventory of your spiritual disciplines. Where have you gone soft? Choose one area to increase your training—whether it’s waking up earlier to pray, sharing your faith weekly, or giving more sacrificially.
The world needs men of God. Train like one.
