Exercise part 1
Listen, if you know me you know I've skipped going to the gym... for the past fifteen years. So that's almost certainly not what I'm talking about here. Look at 1 Timothy 4:8, "For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." And my pastor would always say, "It may profiteth little, but it does profit a little!" As far as being physically healthy. There are lots of benefits tied to that. I'm not denying that, or ignoring that. I'm simply saying, its important to exercise our faith. That's profitable unto ALL things. Because, well, let me quote another memory verse: "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men" (Colossians 3:23). Now here's the thing to understand--what we do unto the least of our brethren we do unto the King. Loving God is loving people. Period. I'm appalled at the idea of throwing people over in order to serve God. That's nonsense. That's nothing. Serving God IS serving people. But the point I'm trying to make is doing everything--all things--in love. With love. Through love. Because of love. Do it because its in your heart to do it. That's one of my mottos. Do it heartily. From the heart. From a place of love. A place of giving. Living out of your abundance. Jesus came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly. Love is what makes what makes life abundant. We live out of our love. Not trying to get, but giving what we've got. That's how we exercise our faith. That's when, and how, the rubber meets the road. Charity is love in action. Not just an idea, not just a concept, but actual genuine acts of love and kindness. I like James 2:15-16, "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?" And there's that word "profit" again. Big muscles profit a little bit. Remember that gym commercial, "I pick things up and put them down"? Funny stuff. But seeing a need and meeting it... that's the kind of profit we really need to work for. Now don't get it twisted, I'm not talking about labor and works (which don't work) and earning a profit from God. I'm talking about putting in the work of connecting to people. Building relationships. Again, seeing a need and meeting it. Living out of abundance. If you have two coats, and someone needs one, give them a coat. But don't overextend yourself. Don't freeze to death because you gave away your only coat. Giving everything you've got and everything you are is my personal defintion of love. Having said that, I don't believe you should ever put yourself, or keep yourself, in a bad situation. And I believe that once you've given something all you've got... its either enough, or its not. So, like physical exercise (and I'm not strictly speaking from experience here, but stick with me), you shouldn't try to overdo it. Exercise your faith, but stay in your lane. Don't try to be someone you're not, or do something you haven't been called to do. Exercise your faith, and you'll grow stronger!