Is your Christian faith fit or flabby? Spiritual health is comparable to physical health. It’s better when you exercise it. Here are three benchmarks to measure your spiritual fitness.

Is your Christian faith fit or flabby? A fit faith makes a commitment to Jesus Christ.

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (ESV, Matthew 16:24)

Faith, by nature, involves a risk. And exercising Christian faith includes practices and spiritual disciplines that train disciples in righteousness. Similar to the fitness training of athletes pursuing their sport.

And when you commit to following Jesus Christ, you carry a cross that includes adversity. Especially from the secular culture and scoffers who claim Christianity is a crutch for the weak minded. Because while you find purpose and satisfaction in imitating the life of Jesus, obeying his commands, and pursuing holiness, few people will commend you for it. But rather, despise, ridicule, and persecute you.

Furthermore, you relinquish two things the human heart holds dear. Pride and self-reliance. And exercise faith by humbly and confidently moving forward and trusting the God who keeps His promises.

Is Your Christian Faith Fit or Flabby? A fit faith moves from belief to action.

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (ESV, James 2:17-18)

Belief in Jesus is where you start. But not where you stay. Because genuine, deeply held belief always moves to action. And actions are what James is talking about. Not that good works save you, but they demonstrate through Godly actions, the salvation you’ve received. A follower of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord who strives to imitate his life.

This is why regular, spiritual disciplines of Bible study, prayer, worship, and fellowship with other believers are so important. They build God’s truth into your life and equip you to live out your faith.

Is your Christian faith fit or flabby? A fit faith embraces obedience.

The Bible is God’s word for living as a disciple of Jesus. And his followers strive to obey it.

In a day of my rights, my truth, and me, myself and I, obedience is an unpopular aspect of the Christian faith. And for many, an absolute, Christianity deal breaker. But it’s the difference between worshiping the Almighty God and worshiping yourself as a god.

Because the Christian faith acts on God’s truth and seeks His Kingdom. And when you commit to it there are some pretty awesome benefits.

Like as you exercise faith, your capacity for even greater faith increases. You experience more joy and sense of eternal purpose. And you suddenly see and recognize God’s Spirit working in amazing ways.

So if your spiritual life seems dull and powerless. In a spiritual rut rather than a growing relationship. Consider restructuring your sedentary spiritual routine into a Divinely focused, fitness regime.

Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview. This blog is originally published here.

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