Formed by Relationships
by Sherry Wallis
I recently joined a gym. Many of my expectations have come true: it’s hard, it’s beneficial, and I am really out of shape. Other things have surprised me: I can get up early to go to the gym and I don’t mind it, I can push through the hard workouts, but I really dislike the exercise bike.
Paul includes many athletic metaphors in his writings, and they have taken on new meaning lately. I see many similarities in my exercise journey and my faith journey.
I am not the typical age of the gym members, but no one at the gym has judged me. Instead, they encourage me, teach me how to improve my form, and cheer me on. The coaches have met me where I am, scaled the workouts to my abilities, and continued to challenge me to improve. The friendly community atmosphere I have found has been my biggest surprise.
This exercise journey I am on is a personal journey. I won’t benefit if someone else does the exercises for me or if I don’t show up at all. I also can’t compare my results with anyone else’s. Instead, I am working hard to improve my mobility, strengthen my endurance and do better than the last time. When I can lift five pounds more than I did last month or finish the workout set within the goal time, these small gains are worth celebrating.
My faith and spiritual journey cannot be compared to anyone else’s…comparison is the thief of joy. Yes, I can and should study the Scriptures on my own, but I am sharpened by attending church, hearing sermons and lessons, and interacting with other believers. My personal experiences, gifts and abilities all play a part in my spiritual walk. God didn’t give me the gift of insight to teach adults like my friend Anne does, but I can be creative and patient with five-year-olds. My singing voice falls under “joyful noise,” but I can encourage Kirsten and Preston in the youth band to continue to use their talents to glorify the Lord. My time is more constrained than others, but I can thank those who volunteer.
Just as I have to do the physical exercises, I also have to put in the effort in my spiritual journey. When I read the Bible, study and memorize Scripture, and attend worship services, I am strengthening my spiritual muscles. Learning new spiritual truths, reflecting the fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control Galatians 5:22-23) more this month than last month, and praying more often are spiritual gains I want to celebrate. Recognizing where I fell short today and working harder tomorrow and every day to grow closer to the Lord are challenges I want to strive to attain.
I didn’t want to be satisfied with where my physical body was when I joined the gym, just as I shouldn’t be content with where I am in my faith and spiritual knowledge today. In 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, Paul admonishes them:
I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?
Am I content with milk or am I striving for solid food?
I want those in the church to be like my gym community.
Meet the attendees and members where they are without judgment and encourage them to learn and grow in their faith.
Teach them about Jesus, the Bible, and how to live a spiritual life.
Gently correct them when they are taking Scripture out of context so they can learn.
Check in on those who were baptized recently. Remind them that they will have challenges and cheer them on in their faith journey.
Encourage the believers who have been following Christ for years to continue to trust even through the hard times.
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-14
The gym community is made up of male and female, students, and professionals. Their skillsets are varied, but they are all working towards similar goals…to grow stronger and improve their mobility. The church community is also male and female, students, and professionals. Our faith journeys are different, but we are all working towards the same goal…to remain faithful to Jesus and tell others about Him so they can know Him also. So, in the coming days and weeks, I am going to flex my spiritual muscles and share Jesus with others. I am going to try to reflect the fruit of the spirit more today than yesterday and be a better member of the community.
Will you join me in this spiritual journey?
