Recent weeks have brought some significant change in my life. Before we moved here, I had begun to workout; however, when we came here, I had to stop as there wasn't a facility to continue. Well, a few weeks ago, our town opened a new fitness center and I am back at it and working out again 5 days a week. It has been refreshing starting again, and I am starting to enjoy the benefits of the hard work. Pants are fitting looser, I rest well at night and I know that I am working toward an overall better physical condition. Perseverance, however, is the key. It will do me no good if I wane in my regiment. The Lord has brought one theme up over and over to me in recent days so, I thought I would write a few lines about what I am learning.
In my workouts, I have days that are harder than others. I may wake up feeling weary (like this morning) and it takes everything I have to get through. Sometimes, when I start a new level of weights or add reps I have to deal with pain and soreness. There are days that are just routine and boring and I just have to suck it up and move forward. And there are also days when all my ducks are in a row and I jam and feel great after.
Since the place opened, I have seen many different faces. Some I continue to see, some I do not. I am sure some will come and go, hit and miss, some will drop out altogether as the demands on body and time are more than they are willing to commit to. There is an incredible parallel to our spiritual walk.
A dear friend whose blog I frequent has for his blog title, "Finishing Well." I think that is because that is his heart's desire-- to finish well. Over my lifetime, I have failed to finish things I began. Some things it took me a while, but I kept at it and finished. It gives great personal satisfaction to finish what you have started. I am finishing my reading through Hosea, and I am reminded that once again, the life of Israel has some traits that mirror the Christian church in America. They started well, but they were not finishing well. They got sidetracked, by what John Ortberg calls "shadow missions." Shadow missions are things that distract us from what we are called to do. They can keep us from finishing the race.
Hebrews 11 gives a list of folks that finished well. I believe there is another list in heaven that Christ looks at when we enter his presence. It's a list for those who finish well and then He tells those that have loved Him, "'Well done, good and faithful slave You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'" (Matt. 25:21) In order to win the race, we must finish well. The Christian life is filled with many who start well, but don't finish well. In case we become arrogant, we should also mind our own steps, as we are all just a stumble from finishing well. We must trust in God's ability to complete what He has started, not what we are capable of.
In my workouts, I have days that are harder than others. I may wake up feeling weary (like this morning) and it takes everything I have to get through. Sometimes, when I start a new level of weights or add reps I have to deal with pain and soreness. There are days that are just routine and boring and I just have to suck it up and move forward. And there are also days when all my ducks are in a row and I jam and feel great after.
Since the place opened, I have seen many different faces. Some I continue to see, some I do not. I am sure some will come and go, hit and miss, some will drop out altogether as the demands on body and time are more than they are willing to commit to. There is an incredible parallel to our spiritual walk.
A dear friend whose blog I frequent has for his blog title, "Finishing Well." I think that is because that is his heart's desire-- to finish well. Over my lifetime, I have failed to finish things I began. Some things it took me a while, but I kept at it and finished. It gives great personal satisfaction to finish what you have started. I am finishing my reading through Hosea, and I am reminded that once again, the life of Israel has some traits that mirror the Christian church in America. They started well, but they were not finishing well. They got sidetracked, by what John Ortberg calls "shadow missions." Shadow missions are things that distract us from what we are called to do. They can keep us from finishing the race.
Hebrews 11 gives a list of folks that finished well. I believe there is another list in heaven that Christ looks at when we enter his presence. It's a list for those who finish well and then He tells those that have loved Him, "'Well done, good and faithful slave You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'" (Matt. 25:21) In order to win the race, we must finish well. The Christian life is filled with many who start well, but don't finish well. In case we become arrogant, we should also mind our own steps, as we are all just a stumble from finishing well. We must trust in God's ability to complete what He has started, not what we are capable of.
2 comments:
Great post, brother. well done. I'll be praying for your continued workouts. I saw that you called, but wasn't able to answer. Sorry. Hope all is well. I'm recovering nicely, just got a cast today...3-4 weeks of this then a walking cast. One day at a time, huh?
thanks for the great post.
Ditto. The discipline you speak of is one I need to pursue as well! Hoping for a coffee sometime soon!
Post a Comment