Bear Bryant, the legendary football coach, was once informed that some of his players were griping and complaining about his strenuous workouts. Calling the team into their locker room he said quietly and with confidence, “Men, you can’t live soft all week and play tough on Saturday.”
Success in any athletic endeavor requires self-sacrifice and tough training routines. It conditions the athlete to endure fatigue and outlast the competition. It is often the difference between winning and losing, victory and defeat.
Paul often referred to the importance of physical training and winning. He was aware of its value. But in a letter to Timothy he established an important priority for Christians. “Physical exercise has some value,” he wrote, “but spiritual exercise is much more important for it promises a reward in both this life and the one to come.”
We spend much money on physical fitness. In fact, one major research firm in America estimated that as a nation, we spend five billion dollars annually on fitness programs and exercise equipment. Although physical health in very important we must always make spiritual health our main priority. Each day that we live we must invest some time in reading and studying His Word, in prayer and worshiping Him. God expects us to develop our “spiritual muscles” to overcome evil.
Prayer: Help us, Lord, to accept our responsibility to develop our spiritual resources by allowing Your power to work with us. May our faith grow stronger each day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture for Today: 2 Timothy 4:8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
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