One of the things I do is get up really early three days a week and lead a bootcamp fitness class. Is it easy to get up at 5:00am to work out at 5:30am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays? NOPE! Do I want to work out at that time most of the time? NOPE! Do I always feel energized and fully functional for the workout? SURE DON'T! However, the routine gets me up and moving. The discipline to get up out of bed, even if I don't want to, is a powerful tool that translates to so many other areas of life. Plus, leading others in a positive and beneficial workout gives more purpose to the "pain.” It is also always better to "suffer" together with others rather than alone!
Just as with all real and good things, fitness takes an investment and a bit of long-suffering to truly enjoy. Like relationships, marriage, professions, craftmanship, and art all take time to hone and grow, so too the stewardship of the body is a slow process of stacking workouts, discipline, nutrition, mental focus, and a clear "why" day after day.
Thankfully as Christians, we always have a "why" to live: We are saved by grace through faith. We have an eternity to look forward to with Jesus and because of Jesus. Our life is lived, not for ourselves, but for him who died for us that we might live here and hereafter. Our "why" is to serve him with all that we are, and to tell the world about our reason for living.
And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:15
While I do get up to do bootcamp three mornings a week to keep my body in shape, another reason I do it is that I get to witness to my Jesus to those who come. They know I am a pastor and every once in a while, I might give a little mini sermon while we are pumping iron. It is fun=) Not only that, but those who come get to see me be an ordinary person who also has to work hard to keep the pounds off and stay upright another day. This effort also gives me energy and ability to share Jesus in all I do throughout the rest of my days.
There are other "why's" too. The more in shape I am, the better I can take care of my kids. The more in shape I am, the more stamina I have for long counseling sessions and hard conversations because I am used to "doing hard things." When I have a day with a hard workout in it, I also sleep like a baby! I need that sleep to recharge, to process everything that happened that day, and to prepare for another day of serving my God and my neighbor with the gifts and talents and time he has given me.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
What is YOUR "Why?"
Jesus has also died for you! He has given your life back! You don't have to earn your salvation. You don't have to prove yourself to God in order that he will love you and be there for you. He chose to come and die for us "while we were still sinners!" He already lived, died, and rose for you so that your sins are forgiven, your life despite death is secure, and your eternity is prepared. Your life now is given back to you to be a child of God! You get to serve God each and every day out of thanksgiving and praise to the one who set you free!
If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. Romans 14:8-9
But how can you do that if you are not prepared to get up at a decent time? How do you have the energy for that in depth conversation with a co-worker if you are not training your body to endure a little longer than yesterday? How will you keep up with the frantic schedules of sports, school work, doctor's appointments, sickness, diaper changes, etc. if you don't eat nutritious foods that will energize your cells and do functional fitness that will protect your tendons, grow your muscles, and train your heart to handle the constant stress?
That last paragraph is not meant to make you feel guilty, but to help you see the "why" for eating and exercising with purpose and intention for everyday life in service to your King. We have been given so many gifts in the form of people, time, abilities, and opportunities. These are added blessings on top of the salvation won for us. Aren't you excited to see what God has waiting for you out there? Isn't it wonderful he has chosen you and me to be his agents in a dark world, bringing light and life to others like us? Won't it be exciting to tell Jesus about all the awesome experiences we had serving him and for him in the world when we finally get to that heavenly finish line?
Our life is FOR him. We get to steward whatever he has given us in whatever capacity that is for each person. I know this is very different for different people. Some have the ability to swim, bike and run, while others can barely crawl. Some have impeccable health, great teeth and rock-hard abs. Others have terrible health, a set of old knees, arthritis and a lot of scar tissue. And yet, all of us still have the opportunity each day to use what WE have to HIS glory. How can YOU steward YOUR BODY in this time in between Jesus' first and second coming? How can YOU carry out the "why" of our existence one healthy meal, one hard workout, or one rehab appointment at a time?
God inspire each of you, with his power and grace, to "do hard things" because he has already saved you and freed you to serve. Amen!
Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3