Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Jul 7 2020 - 1 Timothy 4:1-16 – Don’t neglect the gym

It's not unusual for people to take out a subscription to the local gym in a fit of enthusiasm. Such enthusiasm may last a few weeks, often less than the length of the subscription. The intention to become slimmer, fitter, faster, stronger often remains just that – an intention. I speak from experience.

They may not have had gyms, but the Greek world of Paul's day knew a thing or two about physical exercise – after all, they invented the Olympic Games. The Greek verb from which we get the word gymnasium means to give yourself to the vigorous exercise or serious training necessary for an athlete. The word is used by Paul in 1 Timothy 4:7 when he encourages Timothy, "Exercise yourself in godliness / train yourself to be godly." Paul goes on to draw a contrast between such spiritual training and that of the human athlete; "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" (4:8). Spiritual training brings the benefit of spiritual fitness, spiritual strength. It makes us fit for the life to come – it makes us now more like what we shall be then.

But, of course, it’s not about developing a magnificent spiritual physique for our own sake. Paul’s words to Timothy are set within the context of encouraging him to be a “good minister of Jesus Christ” (4:6). Timothy needs to be strong in the Lord that he may minister well and strengthen others in their faith and godliness.

The same is true for us. We are to be serious about spiritual exercises not simply for our own sake but also that we may bring the blessings of Christ to others. Paul writes, “That is why we labour and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all people, and especially of those who believe” (4:10). Again, it is this vision that there is one God and one Saviour of all that drives him on in the work of the Gospel – and that should drive us. We need to be fit and prepared for the work God has for us to do.

What are the spiritual exercises that Paul, the master trainer, would set for Timothy? He mentions several in this passage: the public reading of Scripture (4:13); prayer and thanksgiving (4:5); the ministry of preaching and teaching (4:13); avoiding endless arguments and speculations – the wrong kind of food (4:7)...

Towards the end of this passage Paul writes, "Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress" (4:15). I used to be a member of a gym and try to go there regularly. But I have to say that I did not seem to make a lot of progress. Certainly my progress was not visible to others; I hardly became a Mr Atlas! But what of my spiritual progress? Am I serious about training myself in godliness, and is my progress in godliness visible to others? Perhaps it's time to devote more energy to the Jesus gym.

Living God, you are the source of all good things and we give you thanks for family and friends and our daily food. But best of all, you have given us your Son and have given us eternal life in him. Help us to be serious about our spiritual exercises and our training in Christian discipleship. Teach us more of Christ and strengthen us by your Spirit so that we are fit for your service and ready for whatever work you may call us to do for you.

Jul 7 2019 - Psalm 90 – Return to dust

Psalm 90 was the basis of Isaac Watts' famous hymn, "Our God, Our help in ages past, our hope for years to come", often sung on Remembrance Day. The psalm is headed, "A prayer of Moses the man of God" (the headings to the psalms were added by the compilers of Israel's songbook). Moses may not have written this psalm himself, but it reflects the experience he and the Israelites faced as he led them through the wilderness and towards the Promised Land.

Because of the Israelites' refusal to trust in the God who had rescued them from Egypt, all the adults who had come out of Egypt died during the 40 years wandering in the wilderness. This is the background to the lament of such verses as 3 and 7:

You turn people back to dust,
    saying, ‘Return to dust, you mortals.’ …
We are consumed by your anger
    and terrified by your indignation.

But this experience of judgment and death is set against the larger canvas of God's goodness and mercy. The opening two verses affirm:

Lord, you have been our dwelling-place
    throughout all generations.
Before the mountains were born
    or you brought forth the whole world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

The eternal creator God redeemed his people and made them his own. Though he may be angered by their rebellion yet he has not cast them off: he remains their God and their place of refuge and they remain his people.

This psalm also reflects the opening chapters of Genesis, and therefore our own experience. We were created in God's image, created to share in his loving rule over creation. But, like our father Adam, we have all rebelled against God and fallen short of his glory. We all live under the judgment of God and under a sentence of death. We are often made conscious of our own mortality:

Our days may come to seventy years,
    or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
    for they quickly pass, and we fly away. (v. 10)

But as Isaac Watts wrote, our God has been our help in times past and he remains our hope for the future. He sent his Son into the world who endured death on our behalf. By his resurrection he has broken the power of sin and death. He has had compassion on his servants (v. 13). We know that we shall one day be raised with him to live in a world where death will have been banished for ever. Then the longing expressed in this psalm shall be fully answered:

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
    that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Father God, we thank you that you took pity on us in our frail mortality and sent your Son into the world to save us. Lord Jesus, we thank you that you have promised to prepare a place for us in glory and to return one day to take us to be where you are and to see your glory. Holy Spirit, fill us with joy and peace in believing and help us always to be ready to tell others of the reason for the hope that is in us. Triune God, you have been our help in ages past and you are our hope for years to come, be our protection while life shall last, and then our eternal home.

Peter Misselbrook