OUR TRAINING

        

        The bottom line is we all have a spiritual self that needs to be attended properly and regularly. 

        Athletes train their bodies and minds for their sport, usually for a competition of a season of games. They make a deliberate decision to go through all the necessary preliminaries in order to play in the actual game and be a part of the winning team. 

        Many people have the drive to to keep themselves physically healthy and/or have this chance of victory and team comradery. Other people train in some part of education or the arts to fulfill that development need and desire to reach personal goals. 

        The businessman or woman will take classes to be aware of how the business world works. The musician or painter will take classes to perfect their craft as well as to understand their place in the business universe. Both a local shop owner just starting and a musician/artist beginning their career usually has had training in their field before launching their own effort.

        Scripture says that people of God were - trained in battle, trained in music, trained in blacksmithing, trained in The Law and so forth for the service of The Lord. Whatever individuals were training for, the development was for a higher purpose - for God's purpose and plan. We can train for our own causes all we want but if our steps are not ordered by God, then how can we expect the favor of God, then how can we delight in God's way (Psalm 37:23).

        To emphasize the need for spiritual training in our individual lives and especially in The Church today, The Word of God says,

"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." "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." Therefore, "have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly." And let it all begin early in the family - "do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness," "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Therefore, "solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." (italic words mine) (1 Corinthians 9:25; 1 Timothy 4:8; 1 Timothy 4:7; Ephesians 6:4; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 12:11; Hebrews 5:14)

        So, do not shy away from spiritually training with The Lord. We have Christ, His Word, His Holy Spirit and each other. Of all the trainings in the world, this should not be neglected, it should be prioritized as paramount. Why? Because our words and deeds will reflect Our Training.