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Have you ever been tempted by too-good-to-be-true fitness solutions? The older I get, the more I see the rapid onset of physical atrophy. Feeling our weakness can manifest itself whether we are walking in our neighborhood or as we walk into church. Some in the Christian world may hold forth a formulaic path towards shiny external godly behaviors—an easy ten-step plan to be more like Jesus. But there is no shortcut. We must place ourselves under the Word and let it do its work as we feast on sound doctrine. Sound doctrine leads to sound or healthy lives that radiate God's character. Training toward godliness begins and ends with the Word of God. Paul said, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
I've got to face reality; I am spiritually flabby. On many hard Mondays, I may exhibit fear or frustration. What's the root problem? I am a hungry woman who needs to place myself under the Word of God and be nourished by truth. And when I snap at my husband after a long week of serving others, the reality is I am a parched and dehydrated woman who needs to be refreshed by the living water that I can only find by sitting in Christ's presence. Maybe I am not alone, and you see hungry and thirsty women in your church or maybe even in the mirror.
Cultivating Word-based and relationally-driven women's ministries in our churches hold the potential to be a banquet table and a life-giving oasis of grace for hungry and thirsty women. This can be a gospel classroom where our deepest needs are met in Christ and His Word.
We were never made to train alone; it is always more fun and motivating to do it with others. Training in godliness is not just for personal gain but for everyone in your covenant community. When we unpack the content of the gospel in the context of community, we experience the lasting fruit of godliness today, tomorrow, and every step of the way until we get Home. The pathway to godliness and devotion to God may be filled with worldly distractions or momentary comforts, but let's encourage one another to stay the course. When we might wander or forget what is true, let's remind each other to fix our eyes on Jesus, our living God and Savior. Let's get in shape together so we can run hard after the things of Christ.
Running the Race,
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