Exercise is supposed to be good for the physical body.
OK, it IS good for the body even though I don't get into it enough to do me much good.
That is what I should to be harping on. Not for you, but for me. Now that I'm into this
article I realize that exercise is essential to my well-being - yours too! It is not that much
of a time-consuming task, to do a brisk one-mile walk. It is not that strenuous to mow the
grass with a push mower, rake the yard at a good clip, or shovel that light snowfall off
without the snow blower.
Mental exercise is supposed to
be good for the mind. Well, duh! Mental exercise consists of reading, doing crossword
puzzles and, in general, making your mind work. This is not just simple reasoning but
getting into some real mental gymnastics.
Good health is what we're after here. We can achieve both
physical and mental health with proper exercise. Besides being totally unhealthy, it just is
not nice to be lazy and fat in a world where sleek is in and activities abound from sea to
shining sea. With very few exceptions, even science has proved that with proper diet and
exercise, fat is an unnecessary and unhealthy condition. Being a couch potato is not
something to be proud of. Turn off the TV and get active in both exercises.
Spiritual exercise is good for Spiritual growth. One way this
exercise is accomplished by taking a passage of scripture that has made you wonder what
it meant and then searching the Scriptures that reference to that passage until understanding
starts to bloom. It becomes a real workout and gets the spiritual juices flowing. Timothy said
it best in his second epistle in the second chapter and the fifteenth verse: "Study to shew
thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the
word of truth."
"Rightly dividing" is knowing the exact meaning and being able to
express the understanding. This along with the context of the paragraph, the chapter and the
book of the Bible it is found in helps. Then compare that usage to other places in Scripture
where that same word or phrase is used. Even in checking it against the time in which it was
written can influence your understanding. If you can find and read the Hebrew or Chaldee or
at least have a language concordance/dictionary such as Strong's Exhaustive or the New
Englishman's Concordance that explains the Hebrew or Chaldee of the Old Testament, you will
be miles ahead in your discernment. For the New Testament the language is primarily Greek.
Remember, in its original form, Scripture is the inerrant word of
God. Starting at that juncture, keep in mind that what is of God, is Truth. What is being
"Rightly Divided" is God's inerrant truth. Extreme care must be exercised to not dilute that
truth.
Why study this deeply? Two reasons come to mind.
First, remember that Spiritual exercise is for your own Spiritual growth. Not doing the
exercise it tantamount to stagnancy. Stagnancy leaves room for pollution to grow. As
pollution grows Spiritual growth is down - not up. Second, the well-done exercise brings
with it God's approval ("Study to show thyself APPROVED unto God"). The
exercise you do is unto God not unto man or even yourself. Spiritual growth is God-ward.
The closer you are to God, the more you radiate to man the nature of God. He is the
disapproval or the approval - the shame or the victory.
So, Spiritual growth comes because you exercised. That
growth is the watershed of Biblical knowledge and the more you store in that watershed the
more prepared you are to be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth
his fruit in his season; [your] leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever [you] doeth shall
prosper. (Ps 1:3).
Regardless of where you find yourself, God's word never goes out in vain. As you
extend yourself another exercise is taking place. You are exercising your confidence level
in Christ, Jesus. This is another excellent Growth aspect.
You see, one Spiritual exercise leads to another and yet another.
I'll wager that you didn't even notice this: All that hard work in rightly dividing God's Word is
also some of the best exercise for your mind. One question leads to a dozen more all
clamoring for answers.
God is always working in our lives to help us reach a higher level
of understanding of His Word so we might reach a better level of understanding of Him.
Physical, mental and Spiritual exercises are the way to a healthy body, mind and soul.
Num. 6:24-26 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon
thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee
peace.
Plain Papers on the Holy Spirit
to visit.