"Be Training Yourself"

A Superb Trainer

An athlete's success depends to a large extent on the trainer. Regarding the ancient games, Archaeologia Graeca says:  "The contenders were obliged to swear they had spent ten whole months in preparatory exercises." Christians too need rigorous training. Paul advised Timothy, a Christian elder:  "Be training yourself with godly devotion as your aim." (1 Timothy 4:7) Who is the trainer of a Christian "athlete"? None other than Jehovah God himself!  The apostle Peter wrote:  "The God of all undeserved kindness .  .  . will himself finish your training, he will make you firm, he will make you strong." -1 Peter 5:10. 

The expression 'will finish your training' comes from a Greek verb that according to the Theological Lexicon of the New Testament, basically  means "to make an object  [or person] fit for its purpose, prepare it and adapt to it usage." Likewise, Liddell and Scott's Greek-English Lexicon comments that this verb can  be defined as "prepare, train, or furnish it thoroughly."  In what ways does Jehovah 'prepare, train, or furnish us thoroughly' for the demanding Christian race? To understand the comparison, let us consider some of the methods trainers employed.

The book The Olympic Games in Ancient Greece says:  "Those concerned with training the youth employed two basic methods, the first of which was aimed at encouraging the pupil to make the greatest possible physical effort so as to achieve  the best results, and the second at improving his technique and style." 

Similarly, Jehovah encourages and strengthens us to reach our higher potential and to improve our skills in his service.  Our God invigorates  us through the Bible, he earthly organization, and mature fellow Christians. Sometimes he trains us through discipline.  (Hebrews 12:6) At other times he may permit various trials and hardships to come upon us so that we can develop endurance.  (James 1:2-4)  And he provides the needed strength. says the prophet Isaiah:  "Those who are hoping in Jehovah will  regain power. They will mount up with wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not tire out." -Isaiah 40:31. 

Above all, God abundantly grants us his holy spirit, which strengthens us to continue rendering him acceptable service. (Luke 11:13)  In many cases God's servants have endure long, hard trials of faith. Those who have done so are ordinary men and women like any one of us. But their complete reliance upon God has enabled them to endure. Indeed, 'the power beyond what is normal is God's and not that out of themselves.'-2 Corinthians 4:7. 

Next time: "Be Training Yourself" -A Sympathetic Trainer

From the Watchtower magazine, 2002