MMN Mar 2022 Mag - online - Flipbook - Page 4
we should seek to increase in how
much we show the fruit of the
Spirit in our lives. Each interaction
with our neighbours, colleagues,
family, friends, and fellow Christians should be marked by love.
Paul goes on to write in 1 Timothy
4:8, ‘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.’ Whether through illness
or old age, each of us will become
Scripture
gives
us
many frail and our bodies will no longer
examples of what godliness looks do what they once did. However,
like, but if godliness is displaying the Christian can invest in training
God’s character, there is no more for something of immense value:
supreme example than our Lord not only in this life, but also that
Jesus Christ. He is described as which lasts into eternity. There is
the ‘the exact imprint of his nature’ no investment on earth that has a
(Heb. 1:3), ‘the image of the invis- return like that. All believers have
ible God’ (Col. 1:15) and He is the this great hope, that when He
one who has made the only God appears, we shall be like Him.
known (John 1:18). While Christ is When that day comes, each believfar more than just our example, He er’s time of struggle and training
is however no less than that. It was will be over, and our bodies will bear
Christ who came to do the will of the image of the man of heaven.
the Father, and could pray to the
Father that He had finished the MMN seeks to not only relieve
work He was given to do. He was immediate suffering, but our
the one who showed mercy to the involvement in training and educawoman caught in adultery, loved tion is a work which we hope, in His
the poor and was willing to touch will, will have a lasting impact. As
those who were rejected. When believers, let us all be encouraged
we feel the weight of persecution, to seek to develop a Christ likewe can look to Jesus, ‘because ness and train in something where
Christ also suffered for you, leav- the benefits are experienced not
ing you an example’ (1 Pet. 2:21). only in this life, but
in the life to come.
Paul does not only exhort
Timothy to develop a Christ-like Jordan Connell
character, but also gives the motive. (MMN Trustee)
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