(1 CORINTHIANS 6:19)
Keep your "temple" in good shape. Yesterday afternoon I had 2 minutes
left on the treadmill and began wondering why I was putting myself through
this agony 3 afternoons a week...10 minutes of abs, a complete cycle of
weights to hit all the muscle groups, finished by 30 minutes on the
treadmill. One hour of torture that I DO NOT like. So why do it? I have
been very blessed to have been one of those people who could eat pretty much
whatever I wanted and never gain weight. All my life I have played
sports...basketball, tennis, baseball, football. Two years ago when I hit
40, I realized that I couldn't just play and stay in shape, but had to
structure a regular work-out program. Again the question, why? Because
even though this life is brief, I want to be as physically fit as I possibly
can in order to serve the Lord.
There are enough spiritual hindrances to our service, without having
physical barriers as well. Does this mean God can't use you if you aren't
in tip top shape? Of course not. But imagine if you are in the best shape
possible, how much more you can accomplish. I have to admit, with the
schedule I keep, I HAVE to be in top shape to keep up. We have to use
wisdom to not overextend ourselves, because that defeats the purpose too.
The Bible clearly tells us that our bodies are the temple of the Holy
Spirit. We are responsible for doing our part to keep our "temples" in the
best shape possible so we can maximize the extent to which God can use our
lives. This is a specific word to everyone today to ask God how you can get
in and stay in the best shape possible. Many of you have simply neglected
this area of your life, and this word today is a wake-up call.
I am not going to say anything more. You get the message loud and clear,
and now it is up to you to either heed this word from the Lord, or ignore
it. I have to remind myself each day I go to the gym that this is part of
my responsibility in serving Him, to keep myself in the best possible
physical shape I can. Of course, exercise is only one facet. We also must
be cognizant of what we are eating. What we put into our bodies is critical
to staying in shape. Illegal drugs, alcohol, cigarettes...all pollute the
temple of the Holy Spirit. If you want the best scripture for not doing
these things, it is I Corinthians 6:19. Would you smoke pot in church?
Would you have a beer in church? Would you smoke in church? No??? Why???
Because it is a holy place. It is a temple where we go to worship God. Our
bodies are "our temple" and that is why we shouldn't be involved in these
activities since they defile the temple.
I love you and care about you. While I try to cover the spiritual side of
life, I MUST deal with the practical side of life as well. God has a great
plan and purpose for each one of our lives. The better we maintain our
bodies, and keep our "temples" in good shape, the better we are able to
serve Him. I will be praying today that you take this word to heart. I
speak of game plans often, and if anyone has a better game plan to stay in
shape rather than hitting the gym several days a week....I am open. I am
still waiting for the workout pill, but until then, I guess good old
fashioned sweat will have to do. I have found that time in the gym is a
great time to pray though. Trust me, whenever you strive to do what God
wants for your life, He will help you make it happen. There is much work to
do. God has raised us up to serve Him. Get serious about getting in the
best shape possible, so that you can run the race at maximum efficiency and
fulfill that plan He has for your life.
