Rajesh Jude Medidi
Mechanical Engineering
Batch of 2014
Fitness!
Fitness is very important nowadays to live healthier and longer lives. With the
kind of food that we are eating today and the way we’re always sitting in front
of laptops and mobile phones, we automatically become unfit and become used to
it. Statistics show that only one in three children is physically active these
days.
Just
as it is important to keep our physical body fit which is what is so emphasized
on TV, it is also important to take care of our spiritual bodies.
1 Corinthians 15:44 talks about having a natural body and
a spiritual body.
1
Timothy 4:8 says ‘For physical training is of some value, but godliness has
value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and
the life to come’.
This
inner man or the spiritual body was raised to life by Jesus Christ when He
resurrected, in other words, it is that imperishable seed that God has placed
us in us which redeemed us from our empty way of life.
1
Peter 1:18,19 – “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as
silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of
life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious
blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”
All
of us pretty much take good care of our bodies like bathing, grooming,
brushing, make up (for girls and a few boys), etc., so don’t we have to take
care of the inner man who lives in us?
So
how do we do it?
1. Eat
the right food.
To
remain physically fit, we have to eat the right food with the right nutrients
in the right amounts. Not having food for the day would just make us weak for
the day. So what is the spiritual food that would help us grow?
Bread, a staple food for everyone. It
is what our moms have been feeding right from our infant age.
It is through this bread or the living
and enduring word of God that we have been born again. (1 Peter 1:23)
His word is what will make us grow
more in Him and nearer to Him.
In a blog post by Devki,
She clearly puts up why we should read
the word, “The reason to open up our Bible each morning is to seek God’s Word,
His direction. The Word is so alive that it does teach us, and direct us and so
much more. God’s Word comforts, confirms and carries us though another day with
Him at our side.”
Ezekiel 3:1-3
1. He told me, “Son of man, eat what
you see. Eat this book. Then go and speak to the family of Israel.”
2, 3 As I opened my mouth, he gave me
the scroll to eat, saying, “Son of man, eat this book that I am giving you.
Make a full meal of it!”
So I ate it. It tasted so good—just
like honey.
Prayer is another source for our
growth. It is that place of our meeting with God. It is in that time of our
meeting with God, that we receive our strength, our direction, and our answers.
Prayer is also a battlefield where we fight against the devil by God’s power as
we wear the armor of God. We also see in Hebrews
5:7, how Jesus prayed and the result of it.
Also in the book of Acts, we see how
times of prayers and worship strengthened and made people bold, how they broke
chains and also revealed who should go for His work.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Be cheerful
no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is
the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.”
We also grow through our fellowship
with one another. In fellowship, we grow together as a family in Christ, carrying
each other’s burden, supporting one another, encouraging one another, teaching
and correcting one another.
Hebrews 10:24-25:
And let us consider how we may spur
one another on toward love and good deeds,25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in
the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the
Day approaching.
2. Exercise!
Earlier
we saw what the things that we would feed our bodies are. But we need to start
exercising what we receive otherwise we will become FAT! Exercise burns away
the unnecessary fats in our bodies.
A
big example of exercising our faith is sharing our faith with others. How often
have we done that? Jesus gave this commission to everyone who believed in him (Matthew 28:19-20).
A
few more examples of exercising our faith are encouraging one another, praying
for one another, teaching one another and the list goes on. Many times, many of
us come to fellowship and receive and we go back and this has been happening
quite often. But it’s time that we do not stay at that stage of just receiving
but also giving, for ‘It is more blessed to give than to
receive.’ (Acts 20:35)
But
during this stage of exercise, we’ll go through pains in our bodies. But when a
man physically exercises, the pain he gets in the early days of exercise is a
sign of growth and shows that the muscles are stretching and growing. In the
same way, in our spiritual life, pains and storms will make us grow and it is through
Christ that we can overcome them.
3. Holy
Spirit – Our trainer.
God
has not left us alone to work out our salvation on our own. But He has given us
the Holy Spirit, who like a personal trainer would help us, teach us, direct us
and empower us in our walk with God.
Acts
1:8
“But
you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be
my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the
ends of the earth.”
Finally
it is important to have a balanced diet in our spiritual lives. Without being
fed properly, we would not have any energy to exercise our faith; we would just
be a powerful sports car with no fuel. In other words, we would be MALNOURISHED!
On the other hand, if we don’t exercise properly, we will become OBESE!
So
eat well and exercise well!
Ephesians
6:10, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power”
2
Peter 3:18, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”
GOD BLESS YOU!!
