Fitness for Life

Great emphasis is being placed on fitness these days. The value of life dictates that we exercise regularly, control our diets, avoid harmful chemicals, eat organic and sleep properly. Quite frequently discussions arise in the news about living to be 100 years old or older. We all feel better physically and emotionally when everything is in order to maintain fitness.

According to I Timothy 4:8 "bodily exercise profits little: but godliness is profitable to all things." We need to put equal if not greater emphasis on spiritual fitness. In Acts 18:24-28 we come across a believer who appears to be very spiritually fit. Verse 28 states that "he vigorously showed from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ." In the preceding verses we note three qualities that contributed to his spiritual fitness. First he was declared to be a man who was "mighty in Scriptures" having been "instructed in the way of the Lord." Apollos knew God's Word and it made him fit to defend his faith. As a result we are informed that he was "fervent in spirit" so that he spoke and taught the things of the Lord. He didn't just know God's Word; he shared God's Word with those around him. He was motivated to pass his faith on to those he met. Finally, Apollos is described as one who "greatly helped those who had believed." He was active in service to bring about the growth of his fellow Christians.

We would do well to follow the example of Apollos. Often our spirituality is limited to Sunday church services. However, our worship should so motivate us about the reality of our Savior that we become animated in our spirit and motivated to share with others. Unlike physical fitness, our spiritual fitness will improve the fitness of others around us. We need to focus on fitness for life, ours and others.