SPIRITUAL FITNESS
Every time you watch TV or listen to the radio you will see or hear advertisements about dieting. Year after year dieting continues to be a hot topic in our country. In fact, the United States appears to be diet-crazy! I know I’ve tried my share of diet programs. Here is a list of names of some of the different diet plans that are available out there today: Alli, Atkins, Advocare, Grapefruit, Cabbage Soup, Hollywood, South Beach, Beverly Hills, Blood Type, Scarsdale, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem, Fit for Life, Thin for Life, Exchange Plan, Herbalife, Sugar Busters, E-diet, Slim Fast, Dexatrim, 3-Day, 7-Day, Pritikin, Russian Air Force, Richard Simmons, Zone, and on and on. Regardless of the focus on diet and exercise, as a nation and speaking for myself, we still struggle to stay fit.
We also, as Believers, have a struggle to stay fit spiritually. How’s your spiritual fitness? Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next —1 Timothy 4:7b-8 (NLT).
The Bible points out that while a focus on the physical has some value, the fitness that really matters is spiritual in nature. Can you imagine what a difference it would make if Christ-followers in the United States reduced the amount of time and energy we place on physical diet and fitness by, let’s say, just ten percent—and placed that focus on spiritual fitness? I think we would be amazed at what the Body of Christ would accomplish if we placed more emphasis on the spiritual and less on the physical. And, of course, this is what the Apostle Paul tells Timothy in the bible verse sited above.
What does your spiritual diet look like? I have a challenge for you today. Whenever you eat some food or work-out, pledge yourself to also include a few moments for some spiritual exercise, such as, reading a verse in the Bible, meditating on a verse, praying, or serving another in the name of Jesus. Let’s do our best to make spiritual fitness a priority. Honestly, it is the only kind of exercise that will make a difference for eternity!
We also, as Believers, have a struggle to stay fit spiritually. How’s your spiritual fitness? Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next —1 Timothy 4:7b-8 (NLT).
The Bible points out that while a focus on the physical has some value, the fitness that really matters is spiritual in nature. Can you imagine what a difference it would make if Christ-followers in the United States reduced the amount of time and energy we place on physical diet and fitness by, let’s say, just ten percent—and placed that focus on spiritual fitness? I think we would be amazed at what the Body of Christ would accomplish if we placed more emphasis on the spiritual and less on the physical. And, of course, this is what the Apostle Paul tells Timothy in the bible verse sited above.
What does your spiritual diet look like? I have a challenge for you today. Whenever you eat some food or work-out, pledge yourself to also include a few moments for some spiritual exercise, such as, reading a verse in the Bible, meditating on a verse, praying, or serving another in the name of Jesus. Let’s do our best to make spiritual fitness a priority. Honestly, it is the only kind of exercise that will make a difference for eternity!
Comments
Post a Comment