OUTLINE:
Jn 4:32
But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”
“bodily discipline is only of little profit”
It is conceded that bodily discipline is of profit; however, compared to spiritual fitness, it pales. This is not a license for physical unfitness (it’s just the opposite); rather, it simply gives us perspective on order of priorities.
Ask yourselves…
Why do diet and exercise fads ALWAYS fail eventually?
Answer: Poor motivation! (Ala Jas 4:3)
Physical Fitness
Fitness is a way of life with a definite purpose. It is NOT meant to bolster the flesh with pride; rather, it is meant to be a component of overall fitness/readiness to serve the Lord. (e.g. Pr 31:17)
“bodily discipline is only of little profit”
It is conceded that bodily discipline is of profit; however, compared to spiritual fitness, it pales. This is not a license for physical unfitness (it’s just the opposite); rather, it simply gives us perspective on order of priorities.
Ask yourselves…
Why do diet and exercise fads ALWAYS fail eventually?
Answer: Poor motivation! (Ala Jas 4:3)
Physical Fitness
Fitness is a way of life with a definite purpose. It is NOT meant to bolster the flesh with pride; rather, it is meant to be a component of overall fitness/readiness to serve the Lord. (e.g. Pr 31:17)
Gal 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, SELF-CONTROL; against such things there is no law.
1Co 9:27
but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
“My food is to do…”
The ultimate source of all motivation towards fitness is obedience. The correlation between obedience and fitness/readiness to serve is unmistakable. Obedient soldiers are the fittest.
The goal of any form of fitness is service.
Ac 20:35
remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed (happy) to give than to receive.'”
Php 3:19 [Amplified]
whose fate is destruction, whose god is their belly [their worldly appetite, their sensuality, their vanity], and whose glory is in their shame—who focus their mind on earthly and temporal things.
Joy Incremental
The more we love and live for others, the more joy we will receive, being delivered from bondage to self in the process!
PROTECT YOUR MIND!