A NEWSLETTER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GREENWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

VOLUME 1 NO. 51                                         February 6, 2005

“Work'n Out!”

BY STEVE NIEMEIER

I ran into an old high school coach of mine recently who told me “I recognize the face, but the body is mystery to me!”  As I went home and looked into the mirror I realized how different I look now than I did some 38 years ago participating in high school sports.  A wonderful sister at the congregation here mentioned about the community center having a walking track and some machines that can help build up endurance.  My wife stated that as I was preaching one Sunday recently that I seemed to be “winded”.

Okay, I get the message!  I am going to “pot” and those that care are giving me some “loving advice” to help me out.  While I may never be in the shape I was in high school or even in college, I can get some exercise.  While the equipment at the community center looks great, they are of no use unless used.  This is where the “rubber meets the road” isn't it?  Looking at them does not build endurance---using the equipment regularly at a pace to increase the beating of the heart will.  After just a few visits and getting into a schedule of exercising, my body does feel some better.  Imagine what will happen if this schedule goes on for the rest of my life.

Paul tells us in Philippians 2:12-13 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”  It seems that there are a number of individuals who have obeyed the gospel of Christ that are failing to “exercise” spiritually on a regular basis.

Many times we have to continue to encourage the same ones to attend the scheduled services of the local church.  Hebrews 10:19-25 is a passage that is much like those exercise machines mentioned earlier, it looks good but if it is not “used” no endurance will occur!  Have you ever wondered why it is that some of the more faithful members of a local congregation seemed to be “burdened” down with the heavy burdens of those that are not “spiritually enduring?”  Galatians 6:2 gives instructions for all to bear one another's burdens.  We should be very thankful for those faithful members that are carrying the weight of the congregation on their shoulders.  We also should be ashamed of ourselves if we are not carrying our weight and always wanting someone to carry our burdens while carrying none ourselves because we are to “spiritually weak!”

Hebrews 5:12--6:8 teaches us the importance of exercising our spiritual mind and growing strong in the Lord and being able to discern both good and evil and becoming teachers to those that are weaker.  How can one be weaned off of the milk of the word of God and move to the meat of the word of God if they do not exercise their spiritual mind?  II Timothy 2:15 and II Timothy 3:16-17 gives us the key to proper exercise rightly dividing the word of truth.  We find that the word of God is profitable and will make us complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Let us all be encouraged to start right now to build up our spiritual strength for the Lord.  If motivation is needed why not use Matthew 7:24-25 and build our spiritual house on the solid rock foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ?  We can do so with the proper exercise using the proper tool that God has given us--His word!  On that great Day of Judgment may we pray that the Lord does not look at us and say “I recognize that face but the body is a mystery to Me!”  We need to exercise hard and pray for mercy so that we can hear those words “Well done, good and faithful servant...”