It wouldn’t be surprising if many of us confessed that it
is challenging, if not, downright hard to always eat right, exercise, and watch
our weight. That seems to be rather common for most of life’s important
requirements. It is no different for our faith.
Christianity is not for the faint of heart. Our faith
requires radical obedience, trust, sacrifice, self-control, and unwavering
resolve…just to name a few characteristics. The sin-abrasive challenge we will always
face is to become complacent, calloused, lethargic and distracted. Let’s face
it…our adversary, the devil, does not want us to grow deeper in faith nor
glorify God in any way.
We must make a concerted effort to be a faith-filled,
radically obedient people. We see the words of Paul to Timothy on
one way of accomplishing that growth. 1 Timothy 4:7, “Have nothing to
do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.”
I like that last part…train yourself to be godly.
One translation says it this way: “Take time and trouble
to keep yourself spiritually fit.” Paul is emphasizing the importance of a
disciplined spiritual life. What I find even more fascinating is the Greek word
for “train” comes from the same root word “gymnasium.” So, just like “going
to the gym” for a disciplined exercise regimen, holy living requires daily
disciplines, focus and commitment to grow stronger and healthy spiritually.
Our spiritual development does not happen by chance. We are
consistent, relentless, and always striving in our pursuit to forsake the world
for the sake of spiritual maturity. We must be focused and self-controlled with
a determination not to get sidetracked by the lures and temptations of this
world.
Paul has more great advice: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, “Do
you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?
Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes
into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do
it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone
running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a
blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I
myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
Let’s be honest and I think we all get it…but, the “just
going the church” routine on Sunday is not the all-in-one solution to this
rigorous workout-lifestyle that Paul is speaking about. It even goes far beyond
a “devotional time” or other cyclic rituals that are helpful to us.
I am not saying that church, devotions and rituals are bad.
These practices and disciplines are actually great things, but they can’t be
the only things. We must live out our faith and allow it to richly emanate from
us to the point that it becomes a natural expression of Jesus in every aspect
of our lives.
We are not only training in preparation for this present
life, but also for the eternal life that is to come. We must, as Paul says, in 1
Timothy 4:10, “…toil and strive…” to live far beyond the world’s
standards to live up to God’s standards.
We must become familiar with and ready to incorporate words
into our lives such as prayer, fasting, service, sacrifice, discipline, righteousness,
holiness and submission. Every Christian needs to “get in shape” and “stay in
shape” spiritually to face the world today and to prepare ourselves and others for eternity.
May we be reminded, once again, of Romans 12:1-2 (NLT),
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to
God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy
sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship
him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform
you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to
know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”