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Feeble Followers

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

Most of us could probably use a little more exercise in our daily regimen. I thought I would let you in on a little secret I've found for building your arm and shoulder muscles. If you adopt this regimen just three days a week, it works very well.

I start by standing outside behind the house and, with a 5 pound potato sack in each hand, extend my arms straight out to my sides and hold them there as long as I can.

After a few weeks of this I moved up to 10 pound potato sacks, then 50 pound potato sacks and finally I got to where I could lift a 100 pound potato sack in each hand and hold my arms out straight for more than a full minute!

Next, I started putting a few potatoes in the sacks, but I would caution all of you not to overdo it at this level.

I wonder how many of our "spiritual" exercise programs are a lot like my potato plan? We think that we're making huge progress from outward appearances, but there really isn't anything 'in the bag'. We think we're doing pretty well, but Jesus says to us:

"You say, `I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked." (Revelation 3:17)

Notice what Paul is saying in this verse: "spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next." Sure, we may look pretty buff by exercising in this life- but 100 years from now, who will even care? Working out spiritually gains rewards for eternity.

You see, your spiritual life is a lot like a muscle. If you don't use it, it shrinks and becomes pretty useless.

O.K., so take a minute and look in God's mirror to check out the shape of your soul. If you stand sideways and stick out your tongue, do you look like a zipper? Or have you been working out so much that if you flex you could rip the cover off an NIV study Bible?

Dear Christians, the majority of us have a prayer life that resembles more self-talk than saintly statements. We don't know our Matthews from our Malachis, and our worship is as pure as the driven sludge. It's time to start working out like Christ is coming back tomorrow, because He just might...

Questions:

  1. Why is it important to keep exercising spiritually?
  2. Which 'workout area' is the hardest for you? Bible study? Prayer? Worship? Other?
  3. What is the first step for you to get back on track?