Work Out That Body and Soul!

Dear friend, I know that your spiritual life is going well. I pray that you also may enjoy good health. And I pray that everything else may go well with you.

(3 John 1:2)

As John greets his friend Gaius, he begins with a concern for his physiacal health as well as his spiritual condtion. There is a strong relationship between how we feel physically and how we are mentally and spiritually! After all, God made us complete beings, so when one part of us is lacking, the entire man is lacking at some point. We must work out that body and soul!

Paul quite often would use the example of an athlete when addressing spiritual topics. In the following verses, as he is nearing the end of his race in life, Paul reminds us of the need for physical exercise and spiritual training. They go hand-in-hand.

...train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

(1 Timothy 4:7-8)

As believers, we cannot neglect our bodies. After all, it is the temple of the resident Holy Spirit! Even if we suffer the various maladies that stricken the body, we all can do our best to maintain what we have been given. As much as we study His Word, we must know our bodies! Discipline is needed for the body and soul. There are basic requirements in what we eat, how much we exercise, and how often we what we spend time with the Lord and His people. Any area that lacks will be detrimental to the other. We are after all, a body!

Work it out peple . . .