Cross Training

1 Timothy 4:6-8

According to the NIV text notes, the word "godly" or "godliness" is only used by Paul in the pastoral epistles. It is used 8 times in 1 Timothy alone. To be godly means to be like God and, according to Paul, it takes training to achieve. This means that, while God himself is the source of the godly life (or, in the teaching of Jesus, to produce godly fruit, I need to be connected to the godly life, which is Jesus), I still have a responsibility in myself to work toward becoming more like God in the way I think, act, and believe.
In fact, Paul says that I should spend more time training myself to be godly than I do training myself to be in shape (which shouldn't be that hard for me considering the amount of time I spend training my body!) because physical training only has benefits for the present life while godliness training has benefits for the present life and the life to come.
That's pretty big! I think the implications are that we won't all enter heaven at the same spot spiritually - that those who have worked harder to enjoy and know God here on earth will somehow be further ahead in there relationship with and enjoyment of God in heaven. This isn't how I've typically thought but Paul indicates that there are benefits in the life to come for those who train hard in godliness in the present life and I can think of no greater benefit than to be in close intimacy with the Father.