As I worked out today I thoughts about my arms, my chest, and my legs. I thought about how I needed to use them if I wanted to keep them strong. I also pondered the fact that I need to do more than just use them, I needed to exercise them. The difference between those two is the purpose for which they are done. I use my muscles to live, I exercise them to remain alive. The same is true of our spiritual muscularity. We use it to live, but exercise it to stay alive. Love, Hope, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, and Self Control are what we call the “fruit of the Spirit.” (Gal 5:22) These are not fruit that we produce, but fruit that the Holy Spirit produces through us as we exercise our spirituality and godliness. We are to Love to even our enemies (Matt 5:44), be patient in our Hope (Romans 5:5), practice Peace with each other (Mark 9:50), be Patient with each other (Eph 4:2), be Kind to each other (Eph 4:32), do Good to all men (Gal 6:10), be Faithful unto death (Rev 2:10), and be strong in Self Control (Pro 25:28). But here us is the key; as our muscles let us live by staying strong, and give us life by growing stronger, so too do our Spiritual muscles behave the same way. Consider 2 Pet 1:4-8, 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s exercise our faith.
RSS Feed