It’s about that time of year folks!!!!! Time to re-up on that gym membership so you can look good when you hit the beach this summer. Maybe you have a wedding coming up and you want to fit in that dress or tuxedo, so you look good for the wedding pictures. Or…. Maybe you have fallen off the wagon of your New Year’s Eve resolution and you need to get back to business. Whatever your reasoning is, the bottom line is that you’re going to work on your body so that you can achieve any of these things I’ve mentioned…. or maybe ALL THREE!!! LOL
The Bible speaks of physical training as a “good thing”, but it goes on to talk about spiritual training as well (I Timothy 4:8). See, the human body houses the Spirit of the living God in the same way we occupy the house of God on Sunday mornings. We train the physical body to keep it healthy and strong, inside and out. The benefit is a better quality of life, resulting in being able to walk or run, play sports or play with our grandchildren. Consequentially, we come to church on Sunday to receive spiritual training led by our pastor or guest speaker. The benefit is increased wisdom and application of God’s Word to help us navigate our everyday lives which in turn increases our faith in Him. Romans 10:17 tells us why this is so important.
But the 12th chapter of Romans takes this physical and spiritual training even further. It lets us know that these two things are part of a bigger picture. This picture includes sacrifice which in turn pleases God and is look at as true and proper worship (v.2).
The picture also includes transformation brought on by the renewing of our minds so we can be able to test and approve what God’s will is- His good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12 takes it even further by pointing out how individual sacrifice and transformation affects our fellow believers because each part of the entire body of Christ has different functions in the same way our body parts have different functions as well.
So, the next time you go to the gym or go to workout or do any kind of physical activity to improve your health, say this prayer before you stretch or warm up:
Thank you Lord for the ability to move
I realize now through your Word that this is more than exercise
This is also a form of worship And as I worship
Give the discipline needed
To apply the same effort to obey your Word
With a sacrifice of praise
As You daily re-new my mind
Amen
Today’s Reflections:
What can I do to strengthen my devotion time with God?
What are the things that could potential weaken my relationship with God?
Devotional Written By: Todd Thompson