PHYSICAL & SPIRITUAL EXERCISE

Physical training is good,
but training for godliness is much better,
promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:8 NLT

~~~~~~~~~~~

The 2008 Olympics are history. All of us were impressed with the feats of Michael Phelps. Eight gold medals in swimming - WOW! It is absolutely amazing what a gifted person can accomplish by faithfully following a good training program.

Most people, including me, could improve their physical fitness and mental alertness through proper and disciplined exercise. Paul told Timothy, “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8 NLT

Not to belittle the achievements of medal winning Olympians, they are an inspiration to millions of people around the world. They are good examples of prolonged disciplined hard work to reach a set goal. But if the goal is physical achievement, the benefits will only be temporal. However, if the goal is Godliness, prolonged disciplined hard work will yield better results. Working at becoming more like God enables us to experience God’s best here and now even in the midst of trials and hardships. In fact it may be through those very trials and hardships that God enables us to become more like Him. The more Godlike our lives are, the more His purposes for us will be fulfilled here on earth and eventually in heaven. It seems to me it would really be wise for us to commit the rest of our lives to disciplined exercise in Godliness.


Let’s Pray-
Father, help us to work at being as physically fit as we are able. We want to take good care of the body you have given us. But even more we ask for your grace to work hard at becoming more like you. We desire your best for us now and throughout eternity.
Amen


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TELL OTHERS WHAT GOD HAS DONE

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!

His faithful love endures forever.

Has the Lord redeemed you?

Then speak out!

Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.
Psalm 107:1-2 NLT

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I am sure you would agree that God is good. We are aware of his goodness not only because it is repeatedly recorded in the scriptures, but also because we have become increasingly aware of it as we walk with the Lord. Even before we surrendered our lives to God, we had dim glimpses of his love and goodness. But since we put our trust in Christ as our savior, we see his goodness and love all around - all the time.

Remember what joy and excitement filled our life when we first became a Christian? We couldn’t stop telling others about it. It may take a bit more of an effort today, but we need to keep telling what God has done and is doing in our lives. “All of you set free by God, tell the world! Tell how he freed you from oppression.”(a)

Testimonies take on all sorts of shapes and forms. Few of my parents’ generation of German-Russian immigrants had any formal education of any kind. But in church services when given the opportunity to give a testimony concerning their salvation, they would speak up – even though it was the same story word for word every time. One could not deny their genuine gratefulness for what the Lord had done.

Most all of us have given and do share testimonies of what God has done and is doing in our lives. Testimonies can be short or long – simple or formal – the important factor is that they give glory to God. Several weeks ago while reading Terry Hoggard’s blog - “Connections” - I learned of a form of testimony of which I had never heard before. I thought it was so meaningful that I am including it here. You can watch the testimonies on video by clicking on the underlined link called Cardboard Testimonies.

Let’s Pray –
Father, thank you for the joy it brings us when we testify about your goodness, and the faith and praise it prompts in those who hear. Forgive us for allowing the enemy to seal our lips - you have set us free from his power. Help us to live in that freedom and tell the world about what you have done.
We ask this in Jesus name,
Amen


Footnotes:
(a) Psalm 107:2 The Message,


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ALL MAY CHANGE, BUT JESUS NEVER

Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 NLT

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We live in a changing world. Most of us don’t live in the state, let alone the community we grew up in. Remember the first time you went back after you had been gone for many years? You couldn’t believe how the place had changed. While some landmarks were the same – but so much had changed, it really wasn’t the same place. It wasn’t like “old times.”

I have gone “back home” many times over the years to visit family. So often things looked different and the family had become smaller. Over the past fifty some years, my parents and all of my seven brothers and sisters have gone to be with the Lord. However, I still have a number of nieces and nephews and a cousin to visit when I go “back home.”

Donna took me to her High School Reunion several years ago. I had never been to one before, and to my amazement, they were all old people! Dah!! I guess I also had gotten older.

Besides places and people getting older, a lot of other things have changed as well. Values have changed. Some practices that were unthinkable several decades ago have become politically correct. Since sin has entered into this world, natural things deteriorate and die. People in their fallen state, separated from God, are going their own way – away from God and His standards and changing for the worse.

Of course, change in and of its self isn’t bad. Some change is good and indeed necessary when it is a change to comply with God’s ways. A major change took place in our lives when we were born again. And we continue to need to change in order to become more like Jesus. He has been perfect from all eternity. He has always been the one and only way to the Father – He is now and always will be. He has always been Savior and Lord – is now and always will be. He has always been God - is now and always will be. Like the written Word of God, Jesus, the Living Word of God, never changes. We can fully trust Him with body, mind and soul both now and forever.

In 1890 Albert B. Simpson wrote:

“Yesterday, today, forever,
Jesus is the same.
All may change, but Jesus never!
Glory to His Name!
Glory to His Name!
Glory to His Name!
All may change, but Jesus never!
Glory to His Name!
James H. Burke set it to the music we are familiar with.

Let’s Pray-
Father, we can never thank you enough for the assurance that our Savior is always the same, no matter what we are going through. We choose to rest in His unchanging love and grace!
Amen

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WINNING THE PRIZE

Let us strip off every weight that slows us down,
especially the sin that so easily trips us up.
And let us run with endurance the race

God has set before us.

Hebrews 12:1 NLT

Legend has it that Hercules founded the Olympics – the date is unknown. The first year written records were kept of the Olympic Games was in 779 BC. Coroebus won the first and only event – a 210 yard run (which he ran naked) making him the first Olympic champion in recorded history. The Games grew and were played every four years for nearly 1200 years. In 393 AD Theodosius, a Christian Roman Emperor abolished the Games because of their pagan influences. They were started again in the year of 1896 in Athens, Greece, due largely to the work of a French aristocrat by the name of Pierre de Coubertin.

The 2008 Summer Olympics started in Beijing China this weekend and have been all the hype for some time now. Two hundred and four nations have sent their best to compete in the various events. Athletes have been focusing their entire lives for years to be the very best in their field. Some will win the Gold, Silver or Bronze. Most will not win a prize other than the honor of having represented their country at the Olympics.

Sporting events were big in the Apostle Paul's day. He often used sporting analogies in his writings, such as runners, boxers, wrestlers, and trophies, etc. He saw the Christian life as a race - a race where the finish line is not crossed until we are with Jesus. He admonishes us to be disciplined and train hard to develop spiritual endurance.(a) There is no substitute for endurance training – it takes time in the Word and prayer – listening to the Spirit’s prompting, and repenting when we have been disobedient.

It is not uncommon to see people make a good start in the Christian life, being cheered on by believers around them and believers who have gone on to be with the Lord. But as the race becomes more difficult they may slow up or even wander off the track. The writer of Hebrews says, “Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up”.(b)

So dear friends, let’s peel off the stuff that wears us down spiritually, or may cause us to stumble and fall. Let’s refocus our eyes on Jesus, and with a steady pace run the race set before us - so that when we cross the finish line we will hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into my joy.” What a prize that will be! - Infinitely better than any Olympic Gold.


Let’s Pray-
Father, we need your help with keeping our eyes on Jesus. We are so easily distracted. Please show us what is slowing down our pace in the race, and help us to get rid of it promptly.
We ask it in Jesus name.
Amen


Footnote:
(a) 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 NLT, (b) Hebrews 12:1-3, NLT,


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UNDER HIS WINGS

He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises

are your armor and protection.
Psalm 91:4 NLT

We raised chickens on the SD farm where I grew up. They freely roamed wherever they wanted to during the day and then spent the night in the chicken coop where most of them also laid their eggs. But often there would be one or two hens that would be missing for about three weeks or so and then show up with a brood of little chicks. They had laid their eggs in the weeds somewhere and hatched them. Little chicks out in the open were in danger of hawks. But when the mother hen spotted the hawk she would sound an alarm and the little chicks would come running to hide under her wings. This is a symbol of God’s protection for His children, and is used repeatedly in His Word.

The first reference to coming under God’s wings for protection is found in the book of Ruth when she said to Naomi, “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.”(a) Boaz, who later became Ruth’s husband says to Ruth, “May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.”(b) Coming under God’s wings is a choice we make; it is not something that happens automatically. When we put our faith and trust in the Lord, we come under His wings.

David, seeking God’s protection, prayed, “Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings.”(c) “How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.”(d) “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by.”(e) “Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!”(f) “Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.”(g)

The Lord’s promise is that “He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.”(h) He invites us, indeed calls us, to come under the shelter of His wings. With tears Jesus said to Jerusalem “How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.”(i) May we not be like the children of Jerusalem, but respond to our Lord’s loving desire to cover us with His wings, where we will be perfectly safe.

Join me in this old familiar hymn:

Under His wings I am safely abiding,

Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,

Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me,

He has redeemed me, and I am His child.
Refrain:
Under His wings, under His wings,

Who from His love can sever?

Under His wings my soul shall abide,

Safely abide forever.
Refrain:
Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!

How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!

Often when earth has no balm for my healing,

There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.
Refrain:
Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!

There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;

Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,

Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.(j)

Footnotes:
(a)Ruth 1:16, (b) Ruth 2:12, (c) Psalm 17:8, (d) Psalm 36:7 NIV, (e) Psalm 57:1, (f) Psalm 61:4, (g) Psalm 63:7, (h) Psalm 91:4, (i) Matthew 23:37, (j) William O. Cushing.
All unmarked references are NLT.


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