Issue 953 – Flexing – January 9, 2023
The boy in today’s image is not me. It’s a stock photo. It’s much closer to my reality than many of the pictures I could find. I didn’t want to confuse you by causing anyone to think I was some super fit, well-muscled athlete.
Since late summer, I have been attending an aquafit class to lose some weight and get my body back into a shape other than round. I started a couple of times a week and soon moved to five mornings weekly.
It’s been enjoyable and has resulted in increased flexibility and reduced muscle pain. The first while I attended left me stiff and sore, and I had to push myself to keep making an effort.
In mid-December, we had a massive snowstorm and classes were cancelled all that week; then, I came down with a nasty cold/flu bug. It has been almost four weeks since I last attended a class.
It’s with both anticipation and trepidation that I will go back this morning, the anticipation of getting back into the swing of things, but trepidation because after a month’s break, I know my body will protest.
Muscles that don’t get used regularly atrophy and weaken.
The same can be said about our spiritual life. When we get out of the habit of the spiritual disciplines of regular worship attendance, prayer, Bible reading and the like, it becomes difficult to get back into them.
For example, many people did not attend worship in person because of the pandemic and have not returned to attending church in person.
If we are saved, our salvation isn’t jeopardized by inattention to the regular disciplines, but it can severely weaken our relationship with the Lord.
If you have drifted away from some of the disciplines, I encourage you to make an effort to start again. If they are a part of your regular life, stick to them. It can be hard to get restarted if you slip.
The effort to flex our spiritual muscles pales compared to what Christ did for us to be able to do that.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:19-25
Being a Christian indeed takes effort. Our effort doesn’t buy us any favour with God but strengthens us (through Him). The pain of the effort is more than made up for by the joy of walking closely with Him.
Keep on flexing those spiritual muscles and be strengthened.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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