The Shape of Our Shape - Martin Wiles

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself. 1 Corinthians 6:19 NLT

The shape of my shape was changing—and there was nothing I could do.

I enjoy calculating the age my grandparents and parents were when I was at particular stages of my life. When I was young, everyone—including my parents and grandparents—seemed old. I once calculated what age they were when I was in middle school. My parents were in their thirties—the age my daughter now is. Then I calculated how old my grandparents were when I was a teenager. They seemed ancient. My grandfather would have been fifty-seven—the age I am now.

The results of my calculations were sobering. Doing so reminded me age is relative. Although I considered thirty old when I was a middle schooler, I don’t consider my daughter old. And though I thought my grandfather was old and wrinkled when I was a teen, I don’t consider myself that way, even though I’m the same age. Age is relative. “Old” gets older the older I get. Now I chuckle inside when I hear a senior in their eighties talk about old folks.

I can’t stop the aging process. Surgeries, creams, and muscle toning exercises may hide the results of age from others, but my body still knows its birthday.

The Bible has little to say about physical exercise. Probably because when it was written almost everyone performed manual exercise. So there was no reason to tell people about the importance of physical exercise. They received it daily. But also because there is an exercise more important than physical. My skin may be smooth and body toned when I’m in my eighties, but I’m likely to still die then—or before.

Physical exercise may help us live longer, but spiritual exercise helps us avoid spiritual death and live eternally with Christ. When I accepted Christ, my body became a temple of His Spirit. God goes with me everywhere I go and is there for me to consult in every situation. Keeping this temple clean through godly living and thinking is the best exercise I can do. Doing so keeps me mentally, spiritually, and emotionally fit.

Outward beauty may be praised and sought after by most, but God likes the inner beauty better. Pay attention to your physical shape, but pay more attention to your spiritual condition.

Tweetable: How's your shape?

Prayer: Father, prompt us to keep ourselves in good spiritual shape so we can properly glorify You before others. 

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