by: Dr. Allen Domelle
Acts 24:16
“And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.”
People are constantly trying new exercise programs that are the most beneficial physically, and exercise regimens that are the least time consuming. One reason some choose to exercise is to lose weight, and others exercise to stay physically healthy and in shape. There is no doubt that physical exercise profits any person who regularly exercises.
However, it is sad that people are concerned with staying physically in shape more than they are with the well-being of their spiritual life. There are many Christians who are physically in shape, but their spiritual life is so out-of-shape that they are a walking spiritual heart attack. Just like man has exercise programs to keep you physically in shape, God also has an exercise program to keep the Christian spiritually healthy and in shape. Let me share a few of God’s exercises that will help you to be spiritually in shape and healthy.
The first exercise is keeping a clear conscience with God. The verse above says, “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God…” This exercise is achieved by living your daily life to please God. In other words, you need to daily exercise yourself in God’s Word and prayer. You won’t stay spiritually healthy and keep a clear conscience towards God if you don’t daily read His Word and pray. Furthermore, going soul winning is a spiritual exercise that helps the Christian to keep a clear conscience towards God. God’s command to the Christian is to reach the lost. You will never have a clear conscience with God without being a soul winner.
The second exercise is keeping a clear conscience towards man. The latter part of the verse above says, “…to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.” Your daily exercise should be to treat everyone in such a manner that you won’t regret it later in life. If you can live your life with a clear conscience towards God, you will succeed in having a clear conscience towards man.
The third exercise is minding your own business. Psalm 131:1 says, “…neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.” This exercise will keep you out of a lot of trouble. Make it your practice not to give your opinions or to trouble yourself with matters that are not in your area of life. This will keep you from getting into squabbles with others, and it will keep you from worry or stress that is caused by meddling in someone’s area that is not your own. Make it your daily exercise to only concern yourself with those things that are your responsibility, and you will find that life is much more enjoyable.
The fourth exercise is living a godly life. Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:7 to “…exercise thyself rather unto godliness.” If you live a godly life, you will find great rewards when you are old. Make it your daily exercise to ask yourself before you do anything, “Would God want me to do this?” This exercise will keep your spiritual life from being controlled by sinful habits and actions.
These exercises will be the most strenuous ones to perform, but they will be more beneficial than any physical exercise performed. Let me encourage you to stay spiritually healthy by starting God’s exercise program today.