by Luke Kincaid
Yesterday was my most physically active day in a LONG TIME as I have gotten quite lazy lately when it comes to exercising. Laziness was not an option yesterday as we saw the return of in person gatherings for KICS, our children’s ministry, and worship was comprised of about 80% jumping around!
After much physical activity at KICS our little family met up with some good friends who also have children. And so begun more running around! Moments after these two occasions I realized that I wasn’t as tired as I thought I would be. I was strangely energized and feeling good! And then I was reminded of the following Scripture:
For the training of the body has limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way,
since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
– 1 Timothy 4:8 CSB
I have spent more than one occasion contemplating the second half of this Scripture. The importance of training for godliness has always been the main focal point for me. But while my physical body was benefiting from exercise yesterday – the first half made all the more sense.
While the training of the body has limited benefit in comparison to our spiritual growth – it still has many benefits for our health, right here, in the present. Paul is not saying that we can only have one and not the other. It seems as if godliness should be our main priority but not at the expense of our physical bodies and health:
While these two verses from 1 Corinthians are in the context of Paul addressing sexual immorality I think they can also be applied to looking after our bodies in general. It is good for us to be reminded that we are not our own. That we belong to God and this body of ours now belongs to Him as we have been redeemed, paid for, by the blood of Jesus. So we are to glorify God, make much of Him, through how we use our bodies.
This has all been the much needed motivation I have required for some time to begin exercising again and eating healthier. In all honesty I haven’t been glorifying God through my unhealthy choices and this is something that I am aiming to rectify going forward – so please help keep me accountable!
And while exercise can simply become another idol in my life if it is not done with the right motivation – I would like to conclude today’s blog with this final quote from Got Questions:
“Our goal in exercise should not be to improve the quality of our bodies so that other people will notice and admire us. Rather, the goal of exercising should be to improve our physical health so we will possess more physical energy that we can devote to spiritual goals.”
Let’s go out into this week looking for ways to look after our bodies so we can even more energy to devote to our spiritual goals!
Much love,
Luke
