Building up Your Spiritual Muscles

Give me one more pushup! You can do it. 

Have you ever had a gym teacher that made you do extra exercises when your body just screamed for you to quit?  I have, and let me tell you it was not easy. But, I felt good later having done it.  That is, if I could still walk afterwards.

There’s a lot in life that can test our faith and cause us to want to give up.  We have to remember to push past all of those things and keep our eyes on Jesus.  Sometimes, just not letting those things wear us down makes us stronger.  Also, Jesus has a way of giving us the strength we need just when we need it to keep us living strong for Him. 

Today’s story entitled “Building up Your Spiritual Muscles” comes for the second chapter of II Timothy. Our theme verse is II Timothy chapter 2 verse 1, “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” 

“Here you go,” Mike handed his mother a sheet of paper.

“What’s this?”

Mike proudly pushed out his chest. “It’s my workout schedule and a list of all the healthy foods I’m going to eat.  No more junk food for me,” he declared.

“Well, I’m glad to hear it, son, but what brought this about?”

He pressed his bicycle helmet onto his head.  “I’ve been reading about this one athlete that was chubby just like me when he was my age.  Then he started riding two hours a day and ate only what was on that paper I gave you.  When he grew up he went on to win all sorts of trophies.”  Mike drummed the top of his helmet.  “So that’s what I’m going to do.”

Before his mother could respond, Mike ran out of the house and jumped onto his bike.  An hour later, Mike returned, rosy-cheeked and gasping for air.  He went straight to the refrigerator and reached for a juice box.

“Looks like you had quite an exhausting ride,” Mom said.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, panting.  “I got all the way to the Jenkins’ farm but couldn’t go any further.  It was all uphill from there.  Too hard for me.  So I came back.  And I think I’m dying.” Mike dropped into a chair at the kitchen table and squeezed the juice into his parched mouth.

“I’m sure you know that juice isn’t on your list.”

Mike lowered his head.  “I know.  But I’ll try again tomorrow.”

Mom sat down next to him.  “Son, I’m proud of the fact that you want to get into shape.  It’s tough, I know.  But, it’s more important that we work out our spiritual man than our physical man.  And that takes a lot of training and endurance too.”

“What do you mean?” he said.

“Well, we’ve got to stay filled up with the Holy Ghost, and we’ve got to pray, read our Bibles, go to church and live the very best we can for God.  Then we can expect to be in tip-top shape for God to use us.”

Reaching across the table, he grabbed his workout and meal plan.  “Sounds like there are a few more things I need to add to my list then.”

Let’s search the Word: 

Paul often compared living for God to that of an athlete.  Paul mentioned in II Timothy 2 that a worthy athlete has to follow the rules to obtain a crown.  The same applies to us.  There are certain rules that we need to keep in mind to become stronger Christians: we can’t let tough times beat us down; we need to keep our focus on Jesus; and, we should avoid temptations and respect one another. 

What can you do to build up your spiritual muscles? 

Don’t ever forget that Jesus loves you. So love Him back with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

Copyright 2011 King's Kids Media 

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