“For, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8 (NRS)
For the last 90 days, I’ve been on a journey to wellness. It began as a result of a minor physical irritation that eventually developed into a major restructure of my diet and exercise commitment.
One of the new tools I now use to assist me in developing a healthier lifestyle is my FitBit, a wireless, activity tracker that continually monitors and measures data such as the number of steps walked, heart rate, quality of sleep, steps climbed, and other personal health metrics.
Imagine if we had a “spiritual” Fitbit that would do the same. What would be the data that could be gathered to indicate our spiritual fitness?
Fitness is defined as the state or condition of being “qualitied” for a specific purpose, physically or intellectually. This is the definition we’re most familiar with seeing, however there is also an expansion of that definition to include “suitability and appropriateness”.
Spiritual is that which deals with the part of man that extends beyond the physical and is eternal in nature. It exists forever, even when the physical body ceases to live (Heb. 9:27).
I’d like to use both definitions and put forth the proposition that in order to be spiritually fit, believers need to be both “qualified” and “suitable” for the purpose that God has designated for their lives (Ep. 2:10). Spiritual fitness is the state or condition of being qualified and suitable for the purpose that God has identified for believers both individually and as the collective Church. The disciple Peter was spiritually “unqualified” when Jesus identified him as key to the building of His future Church (Matt. 16:18); however, after the testing of the Calvary, the apostle Paul was more than “suitable” for the purpose of Pentecost (Acts 2:14).
Next week, we will discuss why believers should be concerned with spiritual fitness in the 21st century. In the interim, I have a simple assessment to help you “check” your spiritual fitness.
(1) Do you feel spiritually weak and defeated in your efforts to walk holy?
(2) Do you find your choices and life style inconsistent with the teachings of Jesus the Christ?
(3) Is it becoming increasingly more difficult to living out your walk of faith?
If you answered yes to any of these three (3) questions, then it’s time to work on your spiritual fitness. See you next week.
I only hesitated on #3 and that is because I have always struggled with patience. And I know that if I truly believe that God has my daily existence covered, I should be more patient as the Word says, wait on the Lord. He “always” shows me in the end that I had no reason to worry.