Strength fitness is not just an interest in our culture but more of a craze. First Corinthians 6:19 tells us that our bodies are the dwelling place of God and we should care for it well and that includes a healthy physicality, but the phenomena we experience is beyond that.
Gyms are on every corner, sometimes more than one. Our fascination with our strength is, well, fascinating with the push of obtaining strength with much intensity. My children are weight lifters. While watching them carry concrete balls that are almost as big as I am I was struck by the correlation between the focus of our culture on personal strength and spiritual strength.
Is our internal drive to obtain the spiritual strength we need to make it through our lives translated into a physical expression? Jesus explains that the world’s burden is heavy but He lightens it (Matt. 11:30). He tells us to cast all of our cares on Him, because they are too heavy for us and He loves us (1 Pet. 5:7)!
Planet earth life is hard and requires great strength. Jesus told us that we will have trouble (Jn. 16:33). First Timothy 4:8 compares physical and spiritual strength. Paul explains that exercise is what our bodies need, but there is a greater need. Here’s the question friends, are we willing to allow Christ to be our strength, to lift the weight of that load?
