WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL “Workout”

When was the last time you worked out? I haven’t worked out for like two months and my 13-year-old son challenged me to a basketball game and boy did I regret it the next day! It is important to work out physically but it is also more important to work out spiritually. When we are spending time with the Lord reading our bibles, doing devotions and going to church, we are working out and getting stronger and when we are stronger spiritually we are able to accomplish some amazing things. Let’s look at Peter for example. When he was walking with the Lord and he was pretty ripped spiritually. In Matthew 14:28-29 Peter sees the Lord walking on water and he says to Jesus “Lord, if it is you tell me to come to you on the water. Come, Jesus said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.” Peter had some amazing faith to want to take a step onto the unknown. You know there were 12 guys in that boat with Peter and he was the only one that wanted to get out! When was the last time you took a step of faith? When was the last time you got out of your comfort zone? When was the last time you did something when everyone else was watching from the sidelines?

Peter was also very adamant about standing up for what he believed in. When they came to arrest Jesus, Peter grabbed his sword and cut off a guys ear. When we are working out spiritually, we are stronger and we are prepared to defend our faith.

The very next day though Peter didn’t do so well. Before the rooster crowed, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. That is pretty early in the morning to have messed up but he did not let that define who he was as a Christian. He got back up and went back to work. He wrote 1st and 2nd Peter in the new testament, he was persecuted, beat, imprisoned and killed for his faith in God. Jesus tells us in Luke 9:23 “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” There are two huge issues that we struggle with and that is denying ourselves and working daily to follow Christ. We are a self-centered society and it is hard to put ourselves in second place but to be a strong Christian that is what we have to work on. Do you know how often we have to work on it? It has to be a daily work out!! That is why it is so important to work out spiritually. I am here to tell you that it is not easy and just like Peter, we are going to fail from time to time but don’t let that failure keep you down. Get up, dust yourself off and get back to work!