Beyond a Gym Membership
Do you have a gym membership? Are you a gym rat? :-) Many people have gym memberships, but not everybody shows up consistently. A gym membership is one of those things that you don’t have to show up if you don’t want to. Putting in all that effort isn’t always easy, so not going can be enticing.
Though a gym membership can have good benefits, it typically focuses on self – how do I look – how do I feel – am I turning heads, etc. Though all of us can be tempted to live for ourselves, God has much bigger things in mind! The Bible says that 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. 1Tim 4:8
Unfortunately, there are many who attend church who construe God and Christianity as something like a gym membership. As with gym memberships, most come and go as they please because - they view God and what he has to offer from the viewpoint of what is in it for me. Will it make me look good, feel good, and have all that I want? Will I look like I’m a good person to others? But look at what God says regarding a life of natural passions.
1 John 2:16-17 For everything in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes, and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever
Luke 14:33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
Romans 10:9-10 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.
Declaring Jesus Christ as Lord in your life (not your gym membership) states that he is your complete answer for all you need in every area of your life. Yes, he is Lord, ruler, and Master, but he is much more than that! He is Healer, Deliver, Provider, Protection, and so much more!
No person could ever become a car by standing in a car lot! Likewise, no one can live the abundant life of God by simply going to church or doing good deeds! Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey my commands.” Jn 14:15,23-24. When you read that scripture, it is important to understand that all the commands in the Bible can be summed up in a single command–LOVE!
Romans 13:9-10 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Because we can only give away what we possess, loving God and obeying him is only possible by receiving his love. Love is not something we try hard to do – Love is something we receive! Love does not originate from us – it comes from God.
1 John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
The love of God cannot be worked up – it must be soaked up! Receiving God’s love taps you into the power to live in all the righteousness of God! Hence, recognizing and surrendering to the love of God is not an option; it is an irreplaceable component of living the life of heaven! Fulfilling your divine calling and living in God’s abundant life is something that God must do through you.
As I pray for you today, I am asking God to enable you to surrender more fully to his love and grace than ever before! Be sure of this, living inside of God and his love is not an option; it is the only way to experience heaven’s life! It is the only way to fulfill your divine purpose on earth! Our world is in desperate need, and you and I are the answer!
I believe that we are in a season where God’s grace is being poured out as never before! God is in love with this world and is releasing greater revelation than ever before to bring about revival! Being a person through whom God can release his purpose of love and grace to this world is a privilege beyond description! May we realize its tremendous importance – definitely far….
Beyond a Gym Membership