LEARNING DAILY

 

1 Corinthians 9:16, But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

 

So how are you doing with the resolutions you made for the new year? Are you still doing what you wanted to do to accomplish your goals? I think I read somewhere that the number one resolution was to either lose weight or get into better shape. I suppose the two might go together. Did anyone get a gym membership or new exercise equipment? I believe that I also read that by February a great number of those making these resolutions had stopped.

 

How about the resolutions of being better disciplined or having greater self-control?  I would venture to guess that all of us could be doing better in these areas.  In my case I would lump getting into shape, self-control, and discipline into on major resolution. I have enough excuses about this getting into shape thing like 1 Timothy 4:8, “For bodily exercise profits little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” Like I said, an excuse.

 

In all seriousness, it is important for us to take care of the body God gave us. It is necessary to be careful of what we put into it and to be careful how we use it every day. The Bible tells us in Psalm 139 that we are that are fearfully and wonderfully made; we need to take care of it. The Bible also tells us that our bodies are the temple of God; when we are saved the Holy spirit comes to reside within us.

 

In the same way we commit to bodily exercise, we must commit to knowing more about God and becoming better disciples.  The Bible uses terms like “seek” and “be diligent” when it comes to our desire and discipline to know Him better.  It is as much a commitment to spend time in prayer, Bible study, meditating on His Word, and applying to our lives as going to the gym each day or reading chapters in a novel. Being a disciple of God requires the same repetitions and consistency as we use to make our bodies stronger and healthier.

 

I guess each of us must decide what areas of our life need to improve. For me, it is pretty obvious I need to improve in both the physical and spiritual areas. I want to be healthier in order to combat the diseases that are around us and just be healthy. And, I want to be filled with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit; I want people to be able to sense the presence of God in me. I believe that comes as I have realized I cannot do this on my own and look to the Lord to be my protector, my strength, my source, my everything.

 

I would not doubt that all of us need to improve in both areas. I do recommend both physical and spiritual improvement. All of us probably need a push in one or the other, perhaps both. Let God give you that push and the strength to make both become a reality.