Christian faith can be healthy or unhealthy. Fit or Flabby. Which one is yours?
I’m sure you know there’s a substantial difference between physically fit and physically flabby. When you’re fit you have more strength, energy and endurance. And that produces higher levels of physical performance and achievement.
Physical Exercise Produces Physical Fitness
Most people will admit they believe in fitness, but there’s a huge gap between those who believe in it and those who are actually fit. Why? Because belief in fitness is not enough. You have to regularly exercise to achieve it. Hard enough to work up a sweat. And once a week won’t take you very far.
The same is true in your spiritual life.
Spiritual Exercise Produces Spiritual Fitness
A spiritually dynamic, purposeful life involves exercising Christian faith. And that means beyond a once a week worship experience. You see faith is active. Beyond acknowledging the religious teachings you read and hear, it should motivate you to put those teachings into practice. And if you’re wondering where to start, check out Matthew 5-7. That’ll keep you busy for a while.
Exercising Christian faith tackles questions like:
- What does it look like to love a co-worker that obviously dislikes you? Maybe undermines you behind your back?
- What do you do when the path of integrity means a loss of income?
- How does a life of Christian faith impact the way you manage and balance your different relationships?
Spiritual Fitness Requires A Spiritual Commitment
When you fully commit yourself as a Christ-follower, what you quickly realize is that exercising faith is hard. It takes work. Can be painful. And the right course of action is not always certain.
Because faith, but its very nature, involves a risk. It involves moral decisions that are not always black and white. And it can be really messy where misunderstandings occur and things go awry despite your best intentions.
And here’s the toughest part.
It often demands the most difficult thing for you to give up—pride and self-reliance. You will frequently exercise faith by humbly, uncertainly moving forward and trusting God will be true to His word.
Wow. I bet you’re just clamoring to sign up by now. Okay, more likely, you’re asking: why would I want anything to do with that? There’s absolutely nothing in it for me.
And you’re right!
Spiritual Fitness Requires Obedience
Exercising Christian faith is not about you. It’s about obedience. About acting on God’s truth. Investing in His Kingdom. And when you approach it that way, there are some pretty awesome benefits.
Like as you exercise faith, it grows stronger so you can exercise even greater faith. You’ll experience more joy and a greater sense of eternal purpose. And you’ll see God’s Spirit work in amazing ways.
So if your spiritual life seems dull and powerless. If it feels more like you’re in a spiritual rut rather than a dynamic, growing relationship that is full, significant and purposeful. Then guess what?
Your spiritually sedentary life is probably producing a flabby faith. Ready for a change? Then when you leave the pew after worship, keep exercising your faith all week long. The biggest difference may be the one that occurs in you.
About Chip Tudor:
Chip Tudor is a freelance copywriter, published author, playwright and pastor. He publishes drama at www.chiptudor.com, books on Amazon.com, and articles on his blog.
