Peloton, Fitbit, Barre3, Obe Fitness, Nike Training Club. You may recognize these terms that relate to the physical fitness phenomena that occupies a tremendous amount of territory on our global landscape. If not, all one has to do is to turn on the television, access social media or go online and you are likely to encounter a plethora of commercial advertisements promoting the effectiveness of certain programs, devices, medications, supplements and even surgical procedures. Exercise gymnasiums are a booming industry, home fitness equipment commands impressive purchasing power, personal trainers are all the rage and even employers offer incentives to those employees who are willing to exert the time and effort towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The health industry has realized this and therefore has capitalized on the undisputed facts that a consistent and effective fitness regimen coupled with proper nutrition can lead to one’s being healthier, living longer, feeling better and becoming more productive. And because of these facts we could argue that we owe it to ourselves, our families and our employers to take care of these mortal frames that we occupy.
Of course, all of the aforementioned motivational factors for fitness are fine if all we are interested in is body beautiful. But our motivation is different. We who are the Warriors of God should view our bodies in the same manner as our Heavenly Father does. And that is, they are the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in us, which was given to us by God and to Whom both body and spirit belong. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” (1 Corinthians 6: 19-20)
From this perspective we are reminded that we belong to God and are just managers, not owners, of His assets. And any manager is evaluated by the manner in which they manage those things that are put under his or her control. Recall if you will Jesus’ parable of the talents (monetary units) in Matthew 25, verses 14-30, where a man gave these monetary units to his servants to manage while he was on a long journey. He gave 5 to one, 2 to another and 1 to another. When the man returned from his travels and took inventory of how his goods were managed, he was pleased with those stewards who caused them to grow and they were rewarded for their faithful efforts. “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” However, the one who returned the assets in the same condition as they received them was sharply reprimanded, stripped of managerial responsibilities and removed from the owner’s presence. “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Keeping this parable in mind, recall 1 Timothy 4: 8 which says “For bodily exercise profiteth little…” This tells us that even though bodily exercise only profits a little, it still does profit. Now back to the previously referenced parable, we see that the unfaithful steward was called ‘unprofitable” by his superior and told that he could have given the money he managed to the exchangers and collect the interest. At least profit a little. This minimal action would have required almost no effort on the slothful steward’s part but would have kept him from being cast out because of his lack of effort. We want to do the exact opposite with everything God has put under our control. We want to put in an effort to please the One who has called us to service. But not just token or compulsory service. But sincere, cheerful and determined service. We want to give the Lord the best of ourselves in everything we do. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3: 23-24)
It’s all part of managing the “whole store” and not just taking care of the meat section or the condiments row or the bakery. Paul encouraged the saints at Thessalonica in this regard and prayed that “…the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5: 23) As you can see in this passage of scripture, he starts with the spirit, which is where it all must begin. And that takes us back to the conclusion of 1 Timothy 4: 8 which zeroes in on the most important part of our stewardship. “…but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”
Again, it’s all about our true desire and effort. Personal fitness, whether physical or spiritual, does not happen all by itself or by being sedentary. You reap what you sow. “But this I say, he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” (2 Corinthians 9: 6) And just as we must exercise our temporal bodies to obtain increasing levels of physical fitness, we have that more important objective of a godly nature which is to obtain increasing levels of spiritual fitness which means more of God and less of us. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3: 30) In other words, the presence of the Lord in our lives must increase that we might gain the strength, endurance, power and wisdom to enable us to courageously fight the good fight of faith as we battle the dark forces of spiritual wickedness in high places.
Luke 2: 40 tells us that when Jesus was a child that "He grew, waxed strong in spirit, was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him." Now tell the truth, don’t we all want to be strong in the spirit like that? Well praise God because He has already given us all we need to arouse the strength and power we desire which we sometimes forget is already in us. “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee…” (2 Timothy 1: 6 ) And all we need is Him because what we need is Him. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.” (Ephesians 6: 10)
It is essential that we strengthen those things which are of God because your enemy is working hard to weaken and kill you. “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.” (Revelation 3: 2) And those things which are of God are spiritual, for God is a spirit. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4: 24) So let’s get to work on improving our spiritual life and seeking more intimate connection with God through Jesus Christ, because we can all do better.
In His Holy Word the Lord has published an incredible spiritual strength and conditioning plan that, if applied, can stimulate your spiritual maturity and help you to be a better servant of God. Here are some excerpts from that plan:
1 - Understand that we will see glorious spiritual increase by improving our relationship with God and our obedience to Him:
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” (Psalm 1: 1-4)
2 - Completely commit yourself to the exercise principles contained in God’s Word which will, without fail, produce good results:
“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.” (1 Timothy 4: 6-7)
“And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.” (Acts 24: 16)
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5: 14)
3 - Take advantage of everyday life situations that may be challenging or even uncomfortable and let them work for you to boost your spiritual growth:
“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” (Hebrews 12: 11)
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)
“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” (James 1: 3)
“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5: 3-4)
4 - Keep your goals clear and work continuously to achieve them:
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3: 7-14)
“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” (1 Corinthians 9: 24-27)
Beloved ones, Galatians 5: 22-23 says “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” When all of these are at peak operating condition our fitness for duty is very productive and rewarding. Look at it like this, these “fruit of the Spirit” are like our physical biceps, triceps, quadriceps, etc. They are our spiritual muscles. And the best way to develop these spiritual muscles is to exercise them every time the Lord blesses the opportunity to arise. For instance, the next time you are struggling to love someone, purposefully exercise that love. If you find yourself battling to be joyful, purposefully exercise that joy. When times get hard and your peace or longsuffering or gentleness or goodness is taking a beating, purposefully exercise each of those spiritual muscles.
In the very hour that you feel weak in your faith, in your meekness or in your self-control, trust in God and through His grace patiently work those things out. “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40: 31) If you get into the habit of exercising the very things that you are having trouble with at the time you are having trouble with them, you will be pleasantly surprised at the strength that you find God will cause to rise up within you, giving you the power to conquer any situation you are confronted with. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4: 13) And the more you conquer them, the less you will have to conquer them.
Consider those athletes who are training to be Mr. Universe or Ms. Olympia. They are very conscious about what they expose their bodies to or what they put into them. We must be the same way with our spirit. We have to be very careful about what we expose them to or what we allow into them. “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7: 1) If you want the best out of them, be very discriminating about what you put into them.
In conclusion, my objective here is to “pump you up.” And though this article was written and strictly intended to stir up your minds and encourage your hearts, we all know that as with any exercise program we can’t look for anyone else to get us fired up and ready to go. Ultimately, we have to genuinely desire the benefits derived from being spiritually fit and then boldly take the lead to stir up and encourage our own selves. And as an added bonus, if you are able to increase your spiritual fitness it is guaranteed that those things you do in your physical body will also improve such as your service to the church, service to your family, service to your employer and service to the disadvantaged and oppressed.
And so, dear ones, take good care of yourselves and each other. You can do it because of what God has already done for you. "According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue." (2 Peter 1: 3) He did not create us to be cowardly, clueless, incompetent, in contempt or crazy. Instead, we have the mind of Christ. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1: 7)
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