Friday, January 5, 2018

NEW YEAR’S, 2018: "TRAIN YOURSELF TO BE GODLY”

Over the Holidays, this verse was brought to my attention more than once (I’ve learned the hard way to “heed” those repetitions!) and it’s the greatest NEW YEAR’s RESOLUTION of all to do just that~ to engage in the ‘discipline’ of being regularly in His Word, prayer, and fellowship. I was reminded by this qoute of Spurgeon...referencing our tendency to “default to self” in all things…”What if, in this New Year, we trained our minds, & our souls, to default on grace?” (Spurgeon, 1853)

So, in that spirit, 3 quick reasons why TRAINING for GODLINESS is the most important “exercise” you’ll do in 2018 !

  1. It’s of ETERNAL, not temporal, value. I Tim 4: 7-8.
    Train yourself for godliness;  for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. (Can you say that about the gym?)
  2. It’s a way to continue an Ancient Christian Tradition!
    Did you know Martin Luther read the Bible thru 6 times every year for 20 years? Or that Hudson Taylor started each day w/2 hours of prayer? It’s what we all in Church history call “holy habits,” and you’re following here in sacred footsteps..
  3. It puts you in the path of blessing
    Scripture promises that the “disciplined ones” reach the goal (see I Cor 9!) Hebrews 12 will remind us this spring that we must rtreat this life as a RACE of endurance~ and set our sights on Jesus. To do that is to put yourself in the direct line of His sight and blessing...

“Who are the ones who know me? the ones who obey me, and as they obey me, I reveal myself to them, more & more..” John 14:23

JOIN US this New Year of Grace for our study of Hebrews (we resume 1/15, 6:30 p.m. at Good Shepherd Presby). Hebrews is a book that promises MUCH, and delivers! A full-orbed picture of “Christ is better ~” better than: the old covenant, the prophets, Moses, Abraham, Joshua, a better hope, a better tabernacle, a better priesthood!” What a TIMELY message of hope in this dark world, so come and be encouraged along with us!