INNER CORE EXERCISES
2 COR. 4:16
OK, this is not about physical exercises but about what we do with our spiritual inner person. In 2 Cor. 4 talks about the outward deterioration and inward renewal. As our bodies get older, they start to get warn out by the everyday going on in life. I feel like I want to go do something like running or playing some basketball but due to the physical limitations that my body now has, it wouldn't be wise to do so!! It's not like I let my body go downhill, it is that over the years, it has shown some wear and tear.
In verse 16, Paul is saying how his sufferings, while not fatal, were destroying his body. Some of which were caused by the beatings, being shipwrecked, etc but also because as our bodies get older, they start to decay, loose muscle tone, etc. We get arthritis, broken bones, sprains, torn tissue, and a lot of other things that occurs from living in this world. Our lifestyle has a lot to do with it but also, things can just happen that we can't control.
But the one thing we can control is how we "exercise" the inner person. Our spiritual, inner most being inside of us. Even with all that Paul had been through and how he was feeling, he would not let it discourage him. His outer body was getting old and weak but his inner man was being strengthened everyday by walking in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
We can exercise, watch what we eat, take all those "stay young" supplements, and participate in the
"diet of the week" plan but our bodies are still temporary!! We need to take care of them but we need to keep our focus on Jesus!! To exercise our "inner core" by reading and meditating on His Word, praying, worship, etc. To grow daily in Him and not let how we feel determine if we spend time with Him.
Everyone will have bad days but we need to stay strong and keep pressing on into Him.
I need to keep my Spiritual Inner Core strong everyday! Then, when that day comes, we will blessed above all that we can imagine!!
Be blessed and go "exercise"!!
Paul
