But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
To refuse profane fables is to turn away from myths and invented stories that give false views of life and awaken love for what is unreal. To exercise oneself unto godliness is to deliberately and actively train the mind and whole being in spiritual things by sustained attention to divine and heavenly things until right thought and action become habitual. This training is daily work, dedicating soul, body and spirit to God each morning, practicing devotion, patience, kindness and self-denying service, and using speech to bless and exemplify Christ. It demands a decided change of life's objects away from worldly pursuits toward heavenly interests, for without such continual exercise the mind grows strong toward the world but weak toward eternal things and salvation is impossible. For ministers of Christ especially it means taking heed to character, words, conduct and doctrine, being nourished in faith, laboring under reproach in trust in the living God, and so saving both themselves and their hearers.
Refuse Fables, Exercise Godliness
The profane fables to be refused include myths and fictitious stories that mislead children, give them false views of life, and foster a desire for the unreal.
Every minister of Christ is required to turn away from such profane fables and to train himself in godliness by taking heed to character, words, conduct and doctrine and by practicing what he preaches. Such a good minister of Jesus Christ is nourished in the words of faith and of good doctrine, preaches practical faith and obedience first to himself, and is a doer and not a forgetful hearer. He bears Christlikeness, counts the cost, and lets patience conquer passion. For this cause he labors and suffers reproach because he trusts in the living God who is the Saviour of all men, especially of believers, and he finds godliness profitable for all things, having promise for the life that now is and for that which is to come, and so saves both himself and those who hear him.
To exercise oneself unto godliness means deliberately and actively training the mind and the whole being in spiritual things through practice and sustained attention to divine and heavenly things. When the mind is cultivated instead through worldly pursuits it grows strong in that direction but remains weak in spiritual understanding and unable to appreciate eternal things, so that without continual pursuit of spiritual knowledge and understanding of godliness, serving the Lord feels difficult. Merely knowing truth or merely praying for spiritual strength is not enough. Such repeated exercise and active spiritual effort develops Christian graces, increases spiritual life, and conforms the person to God's image, until at last spiritual thought and right action become habitual and govern the life.
This training comes through willingness to be transformed by humility and wholehearted consecration to God. It means cooperating with God and walking in newness of life through daily repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ. As branches of the True Vine, believers so exercised receive nourishment that stimulates them to bear fruit.
Godliness Lived Out Daily
Exercising unto godliness is daily training, discipline and education for usefulness, taken one day at a time. It is resolving each day to do one's best, to use the talent of speech to be a blessing, a helper, a comforter and an example approved by Christ, and to exercise patience, kindness and forbearance so that Christian virtues are developed that day. It is done by dedicating soul, body and spirit to God every morning, establishing habits of devotion, and trusting more and more in Jesus with full confidence in His love. Its aim and result is growing up to His stature of character, increasing and strengthening in all the fullness of divine love, and gaining knowledge of highest value for time and for eternity.
Continued effort in righteousness in this way trains the mind to love devotion and heavenly things. That disciplined religious exercise forms a character fit for heaven. It also brings happiness.
This calls for continual exercise in spiritual things and a decided change in life's objects and pursuits away from worldly business toward interest in and devotion to heavenly things. The powers are to be educated so they may serve in God's cause, with growth in spiritual soundness and wisdom in the things of God, and with the armor of righteousness taken up to ward off the darts of the enemy. Without this continual exercise salvation is impossible, especially for one whose influence causes others to view things largely from his standpoint. For the mind must be trained toward godliness and true holiness, and neglecting received light and truth leaves a person spiritually weak and stalled in growth, or even moving backward into darkness and bondage.
Ministers must so train themselves in godliness in order to rightly undertake their sacred work. This requires being lifted daily by the Holy Spirit into spiritual holiness, forgetting self and hiding in Christ. It requires diligently using opportunities to preach, visit, pray with people and teach them the Word. Such service develops tenderness and sympathy for lost souls and equips them to speak plainly while bearing responsibility for those in their care.
Those engaged in medical work who are not especially drawn to evangelistic work are likewise to exercise themselves unto godliness. With humility they are to grow in godly character while presenting the Bible's saving truths through speaking, prayer and song, without entering theological controversy.
Godliness must be actively cultivated, not merely held as theory or knowledge of truth. Having God's word and knowing the truth is not enough, for self-indulgence and self-pleasing prevent formation of a Christlike character, while willing service and self-denial foster godliness. Spiritual strength and health grow through active Christian service, including doing good and practicing self-restraint, love, patience and forbearance, and faithfulness in Christian duties develops soundness of character. Daily actions reveal character and determine destiny.
This godly life turns from folly, vanity, pride and self-seeking to a humble Christian life. It turns from selfish gratification, with churches and families turning time, energy and money away from unnecessary things toward religious service and winning souls. Self-denial and self-sacrifice are fitting expressions of godliness, and faithfulness in Christian duties in the family and among associates enables a person to influence others for goodness and holiness. Devotion shown in life and work can impress unbelievers with the reality of professed truth.
To refuse profane fables is to turn away from myths and invented stories that give false views of life and awaken love for what is unreal. To exercise oneself unto godliness is to deliberately and actively train the mind and whole being in spiritual things by sustained attention to divine and heavenly things until right thought and action become habitual. This training is daily work, dedicating soul, body and spirit to God each morning, practicing devotion, patience, kindness and self-denying service, and using speech to bless and exemplify Christ. It demands a decided change of life's objects away from worldly pursuits toward heavenly interests, for without such continual exercise the mind grows strong toward the world but weak toward eternal things and salvation is impossible. For ministers of Christ especially it means taking heed to character, words, conduct and doctrine, being nourished in faith, laboring under reproach in trust in the living God, and so saving both themselves and their hearers.
Refuse Fables, Exercise Godliness
The profane fables to be refused include myths and fictitious stories that mislead children, give them false views of life, and foster a desire for the unreal.
Every minister of Christ is required to turn away from such profane fables and to train himself in godliness by taking heed to character, words, conduct and doctrine and by practicing what he preaches. Such a good minister of Jesus Christ is nourished in the words of faith and of good doctrine, preaches practical faith and obedience first to himself, and is a doer and not a forgetful hearer. He bears Christlikeness, counts the cost, and lets patience conquer passion. For this cause he labors and suffers reproach because he trusts in the living God who is the Saviour of all men, especially of believers, and he finds godliness profitable for all things, having promise for the life that now is and for that which is to come, and so saves both himself and those who hear him.
To exercise oneself unto godliness means deliberately and actively training the mind and the whole being in spiritual things through practice and sustained attention to divine and heavenly things. When the mind is cultivated instead through worldly pursuits it grows strong in that direction but remains weak in spiritual understanding and unable to appreciate eternal things, so that without continual pursuit of spiritual knowledge and understanding of godliness, serving the Lord feels difficult. Merely knowing truth or merely praying for spiritual strength is not enough. Such repeated exercise and active spiritual effort develops Christian graces, increases spiritual life, and conforms the person to God's image, until at last spiritual thought and right action become habitual and govern the life.
This training comes through willingness to be transformed by humility and wholehearted consecration to God. It means cooperating with God and walking in newness of life through daily repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ. As branches of the True Vine, believers so exercised receive nourishment that stimulates them to bear fruit.
Godliness Lived Out Daily
Exercising unto godliness is daily training, discipline and education for usefulness, taken one day at a time. It is resolving each day to do one's best, to use the talent of speech to be a blessing, a helper, a comforter and an example approved by Christ, and to exercise patience, kindness and forbearance so that Christian virtues are developed that day. It is done by dedicating soul, body and spirit to God every morning, establishing habits of devotion, and trusting more and more in Jesus with full confidence in His love. Its aim and result is growing up to His stature of character, increasing and strengthening in all the fullness of divine love, and gaining knowledge of highest value for time and for eternity.
Continued effort in righteousness in this way trains the mind to love devotion and heavenly things. That disciplined religious exercise forms a character fit for heaven. It also brings happiness.
This calls for continual exercise in spiritual things and a decided change in life's objects and pursuits away from worldly business toward interest in and devotion to heavenly things. The powers are to be educated so they may serve in God's cause, with growth in spiritual soundness and wisdom in the things of God, and with the armor of righteousness taken up to ward off the darts of the enemy. Without this continual exercise salvation is impossible, especially for one whose influence causes others to view things largely from his standpoint. For the mind must be trained toward godliness and true holiness, and neglecting received light and truth leaves a person spiritually weak and stalled in growth, or even moving backward into darkness and bondage.
Ministers must so train themselves in godliness in order to rightly undertake their sacred work. This requires being lifted daily by the Holy Spirit into spiritual holiness, forgetting self and hiding in Christ. It requires diligently using opportunities to preach, visit, pray with people and teach them the Word. Such service develops tenderness and sympathy for lost souls and equips them to speak plainly while bearing responsibility for those in their care.
Those engaged in medical work who are not especially drawn to evangelistic work are likewise to exercise themselves unto godliness. With humility they are to grow in godly character while presenting the Bible's saving truths through speaking, prayer and song, without entering theological controversy.
Godliness must be actively cultivated, not merely held as theory or knowledge of truth. Having God's word and knowing the truth is not enough, for self-indulgence and self-pleasing prevent formation of a Christlike character, while willing service and self-denial foster godliness. Spiritual strength and health grow through active Christian service, including doing good and practicing self-restraint, love, patience and forbearance, and faithfulness in Christian duties develops soundness of character. Daily actions reveal character and determine destiny.
This godly life turns from folly, vanity, pride and self-seeking to a humble Christian life. It turns from selfish gratification, with churches and families turning time, energy and money away from unnecessary things toward religious service and winning souls. Self-denial and self-sacrifice are fitting expressions of godliness, and faithfulness in Christian duties in the family and among associates enables a person to influence others for goodness and holiness. Devotion shown in life and work can impress unbelievers with the reality of professed truth.