Exercise Your Spiritual Gifts

Here’s an idea. Why don’t we start the new year by assessing our spiritual gifts and how we are using them?

At the beginning of every year, people make resolutions and set goals for the new year. Some of them are financial. Some are health, exercise and weight loss related.

But what about spiritual goals and resolutions?

These are the most important things we can think about and determine to accomplish in our daily lives. But I think many times, the most neglected.

How about setting some spiritual goals today? Let’s consider exercising our Spiritual Gifts this year.

A Heavenly Workout – 1Timothy 4:7-8 

“Reject profane and old wives’ fables and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” 1Timothy 4:7-8

For a man who is past middle age, exercise becomes more important, yet mostly remains unappealing. It’s such an effort, a chore of sorts, an inconvenience in a busy day. And then, once is not enough. It must be done daily in order to produce a result that is temporary, at best. 

Obviously, not everyone feels this way. Health and exercise has become a multi-billion dollar industry. People spend a lot of time and hard earned money on staying healthy, trim, and fit, trying to extend their life here on earth to its maximum. 

In this passage, the Apostle Paul sees fit to put things into perspective for Timothy. He points out that “bodily exercise profits a little,” it’s a good thing, but there is a more important issue, spiritual exercise. 

Spiritual Exercise

Let’s consider a portion of this phrase, “exercise yourself toward godliness.” What does it mean? 

The phrase implies ACTION. It must be intentional. Just as you have to make up your mind to spend some time on a treadmill or bicycle to work out your muscles, you must also make an intentional choice to act on what you know from the scriptures. 

Just as your muscles must be exercised on a regular basis for your body to remain functional and healthy, so too must you exercise the spiritual gifts that God has given you. 

Be An Example To Others

In verse 12, Paul tells Timothy to “be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.” BE AN EXAMPLE. Apply what you know to be true from the Word of God to your own life. Lead others to Christ by demonstrating a lifestyle that is pleasing to God. 

If you were trying to become fit and healthy, would you follow the advice of a trainer who weighs 500 pounds and sits around eating donuts all day? Or would you find someone who is athletic and energetic, who models a lifestyle of health and fitness? 

Use Your Spiritual Gifts – Apply What You Know

If you want to become more effective at helping others to follow Christ, you must apply yourself intentionally to being a follower of Christ yourself. 

Paul sums it up this way: 

1Timothy 4:15-16 

“Meditate on these things; give yourself ENTIRELY to them that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” 

Time for Action

So what are you waiting for? Assess your current spiritual condition. Are you a bit ‘flabby’ on a spiritual level? Do you need to spend more time studying God’s Word or communicating with God through prayer? Are you an example of spiritual fitness for those around you? 

Make up your mind today that you are going to apply yourself to spiritual fitness. After all, as Paul points out in verse 8, it has a “promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”  

Take the Next Step – Assess Your Spiritual Gifts

Get this year started on the right foot. Dig into learning and applying new things from God’s Word.

Start Today!

Here’s a Good Place To Start:

3 Essentials for Christian Living Podcast Series

This 10 Part Series will help you get focused on your personal relationship with the Lord. It will also help you understand the basic components of Christianity in a way that will help you SHARE YOUR FAITH with Others.

Go ahead, click the link above. I’ll see you inside the Podcast!

Blessings,

Rev. Teddy Levron

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