Exercise

Physical exercise has some value but spiritual exercise is much more important for it promises a reward in both this life and the next. 1 Timothy 4:8

As I walked through our park today I came across a Chinese woman wielding a large shiny sword. No, she did not threaten me, neither did she frighten me. She was merely exercising and using the sword as a part of her routine.

As I watched her decisive yet graceful movements it made me think of the sword that we Christians are meant to wield – the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). I had to ask myself how decisively and well I am able to use God’s word and how much exercise with the Word am I getting? Not enough, I concluded! But how much is enough?

As with physical exercise there are levels – optimum, enough and sadly lacking. It seems to me that there can also be similar levels of spiritual exercise and just as our level of physical exercise will affect our physical health, so will our level of spiritual exercise affect our spiritual health. Ideally it is good to read and think on at least some portion of the Bible every day. This allows our mind to meditate on the things of God and so we learn how God thinks about things. As we build up a base of Bible knowledge we need to do it with understanding. Just reading the Bible is not going to help very much. We have to begin to understand what it says.

To be involved in a regular Bible study group or course will take us to a higher level of input which is even better as long as Bible knowledge in itself is not our goal. If it is we are in danger of becoming legalistic and religious like the Pharisees in Jesus’ day. He didn’t have much respect for these men who thought they knew everything there was to know about the scriptures. Their problem was that although they knew the scriptures, they were low in love and high in pride and legalism. As a Christian it is vital that we exercise ourself in understanding and getting to know God’s heart through His word.

When we are born into the Kingdom of God our spirit within us comes to life and it needs feeding with spiritual food. The Bible is our spiritual food. Just as the body needs to move to grow and stay really healthy, so we need to exercise ourselves in using God’s word so that we can grow and stay healthy spiritually.

Do your own evaluation before the Lord. If you are not at ‘enough’ or ‘optimum’ levels make yourself a goal to step up your spiritual exercise. Try to read at least a small part of the Bible every day. Get some daily reading notes like Daily Bread or a daily devotional book which will help you grow in your understanding of scripture. Also, regularly attend church and become a part of your local Christian community.

“Let the word of God dwell in your in all wisdom…” Colossians 3:16.

Prayer: Father God, thank you for providing food for my spirit to grow in understanding of You and Your ways. Please increase my spiritual hunger for your Word. Amen