God's Gym

“For those of us getting along in years, here is a little secret for building your arm and shoulder muscles. You might want to adopt this routine. Three days a week works well. Begin by standing outside behind the house, with a 5-LB potato sack in each hand. Extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute. Relax. After one week move up to 10-LB potato sacks, then next week 50-LB potato sacks, and eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-LB potato sack in each hand and hold your arms straight out for more than a full minute. After you feel confident at that level, start putting a couple of potatoes in each of the sacks, but be careful not to overdo it” (crosswalk.com).

That sounds like my kind of exercise regimen! The fact of the matter is: most of us resist doing everything that is necessary to remain in top physical condition. We know better – we want to be healthy – we like the end results – but we balk at the effort and commitment it takes to make it happen. We want to be slim without the soreness and sweat. But in spite of our best efforts to find an easier route, there are no shortcuts on the road to physical fitness.

In a similar way, spiritual fitness only comes to those who exercise their spiritual muscles. “Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified” (Corinthians 9:25-27). Even the apostle Paul had to work out to stay spiritually fit. Do we really think we can do it any other way?

God loves you!

Mike