Spiritual Bodily Discipline

Spiritual Bodily Discipline
by David Brenneman

"But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer. In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.  Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe." 1 Timothy 4:1-12.

Many start out a year with high hopes of getting their physical bodies in shape again.  They sign up for places to go do workouts, some get personal trainers, all with the idea of 'getting in shape'.

Part of this might indeed be for the physical reasons but some others do so because of the perceived shaming that they get from others who look at them and see either problems or again perceived problems. 

In any case taking care of a body seems to be on the minds of people whether or not they are Believer's. 
Yet the inner-person be it a woman of God or man of God oftentimes gets neglected. 

Paul spoke of bodily discipline but what good is it if we're not taking pains to take care of our Spiritual Body? 

We're obviously NOT running a physical race with anyone to get to Heaven's gates. 

We're to run the race set before us in every spiritual sense.  Yet we're not going the distance in taking care of what we have in Christ.  We don't see or perceive the impact of the physical world upon our spiritual body.  We don't see 'the harm' in the things we claim to enjoy and have made a part of our lives with respect to our walk with Jesus. 

What is in your life that consumes 'your' weekend?  Do you shut the world out when sports comes on?  Do you put your Christian witness on hold when a game comes on?  Do you go places you shouldn't go and participate in things you should not?   Do you tell yourself that you've 'earned' the right to 'let your defenses down' after you say you've worked all week to deserve it?

I've read through the Bible many times and have never found any section where it teaches that there's time slots where we're allowed to just let go and embrace the world.

We can't say we're running the race as Paul exhorted Timothy if we 'miss' a day in the Word of God.  We can't say that w're running the race well if we're not seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness.  We can't say that we're in shape for the race set before us when we don't even have the ability to run yet.  We're still, as some were told in the New Testament, still taking in milk when they should have been at the point of solid food in the spiritual sense.  Part of that rebuke was that they weren't even TRYING to get to the solid food.  They were allowing themselves to be happy with the elementary parts of coming to Christ and were not pursuing anything more.

Jesus was behind the words of Paul with telling us to put on the whole armor of God.

Jesus was behind the words of all the others who wrote the New Testament. 

Jesus said to take up our own cross and follow Him.  This involves spiritual disciplines.  This involves training in righteousness.  This involves saying no to things in this world because what is necessary for our Spiritual growth should take precidence over anything or anyone else. 

People mourn those whom they lose in this world when God says it's their time...yet do not mourn their own life that's not living up to the potential that's to be found in Jesus Christ.

Jesus is coming soon and lukewarm people are everywhere.

Jesus is coming soon and there's millions of people who only think they have salvation when in fact they have warm feelings and no clear fruit that they ever came to Christ.  All because of the examples given by actual Christian's who have lived lax lives that are not growing in Christ who are not training in righteousness by the Holy Spirit.

Your life is to be your witness and if necessary use words when that light shines in such a way that they want to know what it is you have that's different.

It's extremely saddening to me when I see aspects of my life that have caused someone to miss a step with Jesus.  To my own shame, in my past, I confess that I mislead quite a few people.  I wasn't up to the task of running the race and botched it up.  My only hope and prayer is that someone else corrected my mistakes.

It's equally saddening to me to see people who are Christian's who actively mislead people by their behavior.  The Scriptures say that we are to be Holy as He is Holy.  Doesn't say anything about a timeframe of when we're excused from doing so. 

If you are involved with anything that's causing your witness to be tarnished by the world...STOP DOING IT.  You are adding baggage to your back in running the race set before you rather than reducing your load so that you can run better.

Yes it will mean giving up your deceptive thinking on what you 'love'.  Yes it is a very powerful tool of Satan to get Christian's to excuse their behavior rather than to confront it.

Where is the commitment that you showed at first to your Lord and Savior? 

Lay aside all that is of the world and  run the race set before you as though trying to win the prize.  That's what we're called to be doing.

Ask the Lord Jesus to show you what you're holding onto that is not growing you in Christ and to help you get rid of it.  It might be painful, it might even be costly.  But it is necessary if you're wanting to grow in Christ and do what makes your Lord and Savior happy with your life in Him. 

If that's not your aim then you are really really in trouble.

Do you want to do what pleases Jesus or do what pleases you?   If those two aren't the same thing...you'd better ask yourself if it's worth it for when you stand before Jesus to give an account of your life.   And my Dear Reader...that day of giving an account is now one day closer to being a reality. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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