The Purpose of Our Faith

I was reading this article and I felt the need to share.  Sometimes we come across things that impact us to the core.  Sometimes we come across things and instantly we know we have to share the wealth and share the knowledge to all.  Sometimes we come across something and we know someone who desperately needs these words in their lives.  This is one of those articles.

Nylse Esahc

#christian living

When we relocated to California, I joined the gym. This might have been because I was bored, homesick or going crazy with all of the adjustments. My husband came home with this offer from one of his co-workers and thought it would be good for me. Also, it was an excellent deal, monetarily speaking, so I bit the bullet and joined. I don’t believe in wasting money (paying for something and never using it), so once I joined the gym, I created time in my schedule to go to the gym.

There are many participants at the gym, but two types stand out. There’s a fellow that has been a member as long as I have – he is on the larger side; after all these years he remains on the larger side. Recently within the past six months, there was a lady who was also on the larger side who worked out with an intensity I rarely saw.

She got on the treadmill, set it to 6.0 which is a 10-minute mile and ran for an hour. She would stop if she needed to and then start again. She ran hard, and sweat flew. Every time I went to the gym, she was working out with this intensity. Within a month or so I started to notice a change in her body, she was getting leaner. Her stomach shrank, her arms became more defined, and her legs got smaller. It was as if her body was changing right before my eyes. Within a six month time-frame, she transformed from being on the larger side to the lean side. I wasn’t the only one that noticed; other members of the gym started to stop and talk to her, ask her questions, compliment and encourage her. It was amazing. But isn’t this the point of working out?

Our Christian experience can mirror our gym membership -when we’re focused and have our eyes on the prize we put in the time and effort. It’s hard work, but it’s the hard work we all need. We’re using every muscle in our bodies, we’re digging deeper into the Word, we’re spending significant time praying and meditating, and as a result of this there’s a change that first happens on the inside, but others notice it. We are questioned, complimented and encouraged, but we do the same for others – we share what made the difference, and we encourage. Isn’t this the point?

I don’t know what the man’s story is but there might be a degree of frustration since he has not seen the change he has desired all these years. He may be scratching his head trying to figure out what to do next, or he may know and is just unwilling to make the change (genetics and body composition aside). Some of us know what we should be doing but refuse to exercise the self-control and discipline to see growth, so we remain babies never being able to digest solid food. (Hebrews 5:12-14)

When I’m consistent in my exercise routine, I feel better, and others notice something different about me. Similarly, when I’m consistent in the disciplines of the Christian journey, there’s a noticeable change on the inside and the outside, and I can’t keep it to myself. I am compelled to share and motivated to live in a Godly way because this way of living is not in vain. It brings hope, it spreads love, and it has an eternal perspective. Isn’t this the point?

…Instead, train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers. 1 Timothy 4:8-10

What’s the point for you?

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Is this not a deep article. We are all there, we can relate to joining a membership to something, and not seeing results.  Or joining something and not doing one’s due diligence.  WE have all been there before.

 

Here are the verses she references in the article:

 

Hebrews 5:12-14 New International Version (NIV)

¹² In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! ¹³ Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

 

1 Timothy 4:8-10 New International Version (NIV)

⁸ For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. ⁹ This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. ¹⁰ That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

 

We have to put our work in.

If you want to see results,, we need to get our hands dirty (figuratively speaking).

We need to open up our Bibles and study guides more.

We need to pay attention and jot down notes during sermons.

We need to open up our ears, eyes, hearts and minds.

We need to do our part so we can see the results that God knows we can achieve.

 

Father God I ask you to open up my eyes, my heart and my soul.  I want to thank you for all that you have done for me, but I know I have work to do.  I know I have to do my cut.  I know that if I get up, dust my shoulders off and get to work, that the greatness you see that I can achieve can be done.  Help me Lord in  guiding me in the path to continue to work harder for you so I too can see and get results. Amen.