Proper Development Demands Exercise

I Peter 1:22-2:3

Teaching little children to make proper decisions about when to do things themselves and when to let their parents do it is sometimes difficult. We do not wish to destroy their confidence, nor do we wish to encourage pride. There are things the child cannot do because of his lack of knowledge, or strength. Many others he may be able to do. He needs to let the things he cannot do alone until someone is there to help him. Disobeying his parents in an effort to do something he is incapable of doing is dangerous.

Attempts to free ourselves from sin are doomed to fail, and are dangerous spiritually. The nation of Israel had chosen to try to get salvation through their own efforts, and were disobeying God in the process. Romans 10:3 describes the problem. “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” They were in danger of hellfire because they insisted on doing it themselves.

Paul, a former Jew, had recognized the problem and given up his own efforts in order to escape that danger, as he tells us in Philippians 3:9. “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” As a result, he could say, “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith,” in Galatians 5:5. Every Christian has had to do the same thing.

As Christians, the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, and begins to make changes. It is his presence that gives assurance that we are God’s according to Romans 8:9, which states, “…Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Love is an automatic and natural result of the Holy Spirit’s presence according to Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” Jesus himself said love was the evidence of our salvation in John 13:35. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” I John 4:11-13 puts it all together. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit." Peter says a genuine love is one result of being saved.

“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:” (I Peter 1:22)

A person is born with many muscles. As the baby begins to move, he exercises and develops those muscles, and they become much stronger. If the baby doesn’t move around, the muscles atrophy, and the baby’s development is hampered. The same thing is true of love. We are repeatedly commanded to exercise love so it can grow and become strong.

For example, in John 13:34 Jesus said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” I Thessalonians 4:9-10 states the entire point. “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;”

Love is the natural heritage from God because of his very nature, but we need to exercise it according to I John 4:7-8. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” We are born of God, with that natural love nature. We ought to develop our potential.

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” (I Peter 1:23-25)

Many of today’s youth have poorly developed muscle because they prefer to play video games or watch television rather than doing more physically demanding activities. They don’t understand the long term effects. Many times Christians neglect spiritual activities in favor of temporary earthly pleasures. We need to realize that life is more than just today. The long term results of our decisions may be severe. God’s word is still valid. We need to live with an awareness of more than immediate pleasure, exercising and eating with an eye to the future effects.

“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” (I Peter 2:1-3)

Proper physical development requires both a proper diet and exercise. With out proper nutrition to build muscles and organs, the body cannot attain maximum strength. A newborn baby must start with the milk, and progress to more as he grows. Milk will not meet all his needs as he grows, but as a newborn, it is all he can digest. Several years ago, some Indian Health Service doctors were telling mothers that since refrigeration wasn’t available, they could give their babies 7-up instead of milk. Today, the resulting health problems are of epidemic proportion.

Spiritual mis-feeding has equally serious problems. Jesus commanded “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me,” in John 5:39. II Timothy 3:16-17 declares, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Since it is all valuable and is all that is needed, II Timothy 2:15-16 instructs, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”

Full development of muscles includes learning to control them in various directions. Full development of love involves learning to control and direct it as well. Colossians 3:12-13 commands us to develop specific attitudes. “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”

Ephesians 4:1-3 Stresses the same attitudes to develop. “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

The proper spiritual attitude will result from proper spiritual study and practice.