The
neighborhood fitness center where I have worked out for years closed down last
month, and I had to join a new gym. The former place was a warm, friendly
facility, patronized by those who liked to socialize while they worked
out. We hardly ever broke a sweat. The new gym is a hard-core facility filled
with serious men and women, earnestly invested in building better bodies. I
watch these people strain and toil. Their bodies look strong, but I wonder if
their hearts are being strengthened with grace.
The heart is a
muscle—the muscle that keeps the other muscles going. It’s good to build and
tone our other muscles, but the essential thing is doing whatever keeps the
heart strong.
So it is with
our spiritual heart. We strengthen and tone the heart through the Word of
truth by receiving its message of God’s goodness and grace. Keeping our
spiritual heart strong and fit must be our first priority, the one thing we do
above all others.
Paul would
agree: "Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some
value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present
life and also for the life to come" (1 Tim. 4:7–8 esv).
God’s training is designed to grow us in faith. (ODB)
