Hebrews Chapter 11: verses 11-13 (NIV)
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
I smiled at these verses this morning, and I’m sure the Lord was smiling too, because today is the day I have my weekly gym session, designed to physically strengthen my weak arms and knees! So of course, the analogy makes sense in the light of that. I know that in order to improve, or at the very least maintain my level of mobility and independence I am going to have to continue working at it, in order to make sure my muscles and tendons do what they should. It’s hard work, but it works. Therefore, why do I not always give the same level of energy and commitment to make sure that I live an active and healthy spiritual life. We may also take medical advice about how to improve our physical health and we know that there can be consequences in ignoring that advice. Yet too often we are less quick to act on the advice we are given on how to improve our spiritual health. We do so at our peril.
God made us body, soul and spirit and He wants every area of our life to be healthy and growing. Let’s make sure we exercise the same level of discipline and activity in every area as He intends.
Dear Lord,
Thank You that You are interested in every area of my life. Help me to exercise discipline and commitment to them all, under the direction of Your Holy Spirit. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.