Forward Motion

Every now and then I meet one of those biological freaks of nature who don’t gain weight, even though they eat anything they want to. For the rest of us, that isn’t the case.

Then there are people who are in great shape for a reason. They get up in the morning and exercise. They also think about the things they eat, like my friend Skip Heitzig.

Awhile back we went out for lunch at a meatball place. I ordered a hoagie-type sandwich with spicy meatballs, sauce, and melted provolone cheese (because that’s how it’s done at a meatball place). Meanwhile, Skip ordered chicken meatballs.

I thought, “What? Chicken? You don’t make meatballs out of chicken.” And then he ordered—I almost can’t say it—a kale salad.

However, Skip is a very thin guy, and I am not. So maybe there’s something to his lunch choices.

Now, let’s compare that to the spiritual life. Someone gets up in the morning and reads their Bible. They pray. And during their commute, they listen to Christian radio, worship music, or some podcasts that encourage them spiritually.

Even on their lunch break, they take some time to open up God’s Word again. They’re involved in church and attend every weekend. But they also participate in a small group or a midweek Bible study. As a result, they’re doing well spiritually.

That isn’t legalism or righteousness from works. Rather, it’s working righteousness. There is our part as well as God’s part, and we need to recognize that.

When you get up in the morning, you make the choice whether you will walk in the Spirit or walk in the flesh. And the best way to avoid going backward spiritually is to go forward in the Spirit. God wants His spirit to permeate every area of your life.