Exercise, the Key to Growth

Today’s Bible Reading:  Hosea 13-14; Psalm 100, 102; Hebrews 5

Journal Entry on a passage from today’s reading:

Topic: Spiritual Growth

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews 5:12-14

¹² For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. ¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. ¹⁴ But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 

(Heb. 5:12-14 NKJV).

OBSERVATION:

The writer of the book of Hebrews makes an observation about the Christians to whom he is writing. They were not maturing in their relationship with God as they should be. They were still only babies as far as their spiritual growth was concerned. While, by this time in their Christian growth they ought to be giving out the truth to others, they were still like babies nursing on the basics of a life in Christ, receiving only milk for themselves but not giving of anything for the benefit of others. The key to this maturity, to coming “of full age,” is exercise. Those who repeatedly exercise their spiritual senses will grow to have the discernment to recognize what is right and wrong—to recognize God’s voice and His leading. They will mature to the place of being equipped to teach others.      

APPLICATION:

As Christians we need to exercise our spiritual senses; we need to use the gifts, talents and abilities the Lord has given us. When we exercise these we will grow stronger; we will grow to be mature and fulfilled children of our Father God. The converse is also true: if we don’t use what we have been given, not only will we not grow, our spiritual senses will be diminished.

This is a spiritual principle that we should easily recognize. We know that when we exercise our muscles they become bigger and stronger, and that if we don’t exercise them they will atrophy and become weaker. If we have a musical talent it will increase the more we practice; if we refuse to practice, our proficiency will decrease. Even the most gifted athletes work out and practice diligently; if they don’t they will never become champions. The same is true of our spiritual senses. Those who by reason of use have their senses exercised will grow to take in solid food and not just milk; they will become givers and teachers, not just receivers of God’s goodness.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank You for helping me understand the importance of observing cycles of exercise and rest in my life. Intense exercise, whether physical or spiritual, can create weariness and the need for rest, but thank You for helping me realize that I cannot stay indefinitely at rest. Rather, it is the rest and refreshing You bring that enables me to get up and exercise more. This is how I grow, and I am eternally grateful to You my God for the abundant and meaningful life You have called me to and gifted me for. Through Christ. Amen.  –AP