FITNESS
24th Aug 2016
Fitness is the “in” thing at the moment. It takes time to achieve, demands complete dedication and a fresh look at every aspect of life - not just exercise, but diet and rest come under scrutiny.
Paul in his counsel to his disciple Timothy also emphasises fitness, of a different kind, but needing the same dedication and resulting in maturity. 1 Timothy 4:8 in The Message says, “Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever.”
Physical training shows in your body, you become visibly different, lean & mean, and very conscious of how your body is performing, or not! Adjustments to diet and specific areas of workout are put in place, goals set, etc. etc.
Check out your spiritual fitness, are you getting fitter of more flabby? Paul continues in verse 12, “Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanour, by love, by faith, by integrity. Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching. And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed—keep that dusted off and in use.”
Paul is encouraging Timothy to stay at his post, reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching and ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit. As you just keep at it, feeding yourself with good spiritual food, training in prayer and worship, and working it out in love and service, you will do yourself good and others will benefit too.
Paul’s letters to Timothy read like a fitness manual, and we as believers need to take note and start the exercise routine. Even though you have a living contact with God through Jesus, you still need to grow to maturity to become strong in faith. The means to maturity, as in the natural, is constant exercise; and if you keep doing the stuff you will see the results.
by Joyce Sibthorpe
