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SCRIPTURE: 1 CORINTHIANS 9:24-27

Paul admonishes believers in the Church of  Corinth to be disciplined and hold onto the teachings of Christ just as he has done so that they are not drawn into temptation after representing Christ among unbelievers.

REFLECTION

Fit for life is the theme for today’s reflection. To be fit for life means to be healthy and strong, especially as a result of exercise and proper diet. We are going to focus on two important factors that every believer must consider in order to be fit for life. 

The first factor is the need to be disciplined in exercising physically and  maintaining good diet and eating habit. For an athlete or sports person to be fit for a race it takes regular exercise and good dietary plan. Without discipline one is unable to regularly exercise and control his or her appetite in order to maintain a proper dietary plan.  Paul wrote that “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” (1 Corinthians 9:25) To be fit for life, we must be conscious about our health and be mindful of what we eat and drink even as we maintain regular exercise. “Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way.  Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.” (Proverbs 23:19-21). There are sicknesses or health conditions that are avoidable when we discipline our bodies through physical exercise and the maintenance of good diet.  

Secondly, connected to our physical exercise and discipline is our spiritual and moral discipline. To be fit for life a believer must be spiritually strong and morally upright. It is not a walk in the park, to achieve a healthy spiritual life  and moral fortitude, it takes discipline, faith in Christ and consistency in daily Bible study and prayers in our relationship with God. This is why I highly recommend you do no miss your “No Bible No Breakfast Bible reflections (NBNB). Paul wrote that “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:27). How does one maintain discipline to overcome the desires and temptations of  the body and to keep it under control in order to please God and be fit for life? Jesus gives us the answer in Matthew 4:4 when He answered Satan that  “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” My dear friend until you are spiritually healthy and living by every word that comes from the mouth of God, you may appear to be fit for this life but not be fit for the Eternal life. “For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.” (Luke 12:23) It is only those who are spiritually fit for this life who will become fit for the life Jesus offers when He said that “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17). Remember that a Christian’s spiritual discipline and self-control principle is “No Bible No breakfast, No Prayer no social media or interaction with the world” In addition we are encourage to practice regular physical exercise and maintain a good dietary plan to keep us physically healthy. Shalom

PRAYER 

DEPENDABLE AND GRACIOUS GOD, ENABLE US TO LIVE A BALANCED LIFE OF SELF-CONTROL AND VICTORY OVER TEMPTATIONS THROUGH THE SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT OF YOUR WORD . MAY YOU CONTINUE TO BLESS US  PHYSICALLY BY GRANTING US GOOD HEALTH  SO THAT WE MAY CONTINUE TO BE FIT FOR THIS LIFE AND THE EVERLASTING LIFE IN OUR LORD AND MASTER JESUS.  AMEN

Jean-Paul Agidi (Rev)