In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. [1 Timothy 4:6-10 NASB]
Paul is encouraging Timothy to point out the errors of legalism and asceticism in trying to earn godliness or spirituality. He compares such things to "old wives' tales".
There is a difference between asceticism and godly discipline. At first glance, that may seem like an obvious statement. After all, beating your own back with a whip in an act of self-flagellation is an extreme act with no spiritual benefit. But people still try to be holy by legalistic self-discipline.
Physical discipline differs from asceticism primarily in motive. I have seen people in the gym push themselves to the extreme of exhaustion and pain in an effort to discipline their bodies. There is nothing wrong with disciplining the body to keep yourself fit and healthy. Just understand that it is not the way to godliness. When the Bible says that your body is a temple of God, it means that you should keep it holy by refraining from sin. It is not an invitation to achieve holiness through physical fitness.
Paul said, "for bodily discipline is only of little profit." In other words, there is some value in it, but it is limited to this life only. He goes on to say, "but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."
Paul distinguishes between physical discipline and godly discipline.
The first thing to understand about godly discipline is that no amount of discipline can make you holy. It is a free gift from God, along with your salvation. We discipline our minds in response to God's gift, so that we may live more completely for Him, and draw closer into our relationship with Him. Paul tells us;
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. [Romans 12:2 NASB]
Transformation comes through mental discipline. I don't mean that you have the power to transform your own mind, but rather, that by submitting your mind to the Spirit of God, you allow Him to transform you.
At its core, godly discipline means setting your mind on the Spirit of God. Paul said;
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, [Romans 8:5-6 NASB]
Setting your mind on the Spirit simply means to think about God. It is simple in concept, but difficult in practice. It is natural for the human mind to wander; to worry about the past and future; to focus solely on the task at hand.
With discipline, you can train your mind to be aware of God's presence all day long, even while you perform other tasks or carry on conversations with other people. It doesn't happen through intense concentration, and it can't be forced. It is a matter of relaxing and being aware of God's presence just as you are aware of your surroundings.
If you put great effort into it, and tell yourself that you must be aware of God, then you are making it a legalistic effort of the flesh. It doesn't take effort on your part, only awareness.
The paradox of godly discipline is that it requires less effort, and not more. It requires a commitment to not strive, but to surrender. You can't force yourself into God's presence, but you can allow His presence to wash over you. It is only in this way that we can overcome the legalistic efforts of the flesh. Paul said;
the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. [Romans 8:4 NASB]
It is the surrender of spiritual discipline that overcomes sin in our lives. Again Paul said;
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. [Galatians 5:16 NASB]
There are those who say, "I am a sinner, and can't help but sin, but I ask forgiveness and repent every day." That is not holiness. It is an indulgence of the flesh, and denies God's power to overcome sin in your life.
There are others who try to be holy by great efforts of self-discipline. They expend great effort to deny the desires and temptations that plague them. This too, is an indulgence of the flesh. It also denies God's power to overcome sin. It says, in essence, "God can't do it for me, so I will."
But if you accept God's grace, surrender your will to Him, and simply, effortlessly, turn your mind toward Him, He will show His power to overcome sin in your life. You will live a holy life - not because you have overcome sin, but because you are living in His presence.
Father, I thank You that You have placed Your Spirit within me to guide and teach me, and to empower me to overcome the flesh. I pray for the grace to keep my mind fixed on You through Your Spirit at all times and in everything I do.
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