Digging Deeper: Exercise My Faith
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together…
Acts 2:45-46a (ESV)
EXERCISE MY FAITH
Exercise! For some of you, this is a four-letter word! For others, it’s an obsession. Most of us fall somewhere in between those extremes. I think we can all agree that exercise is not only good for our physical bodies but also for our emotional well-being. Exercise builds strength, endurance, and discipline. But have you ever thought of your faith as something that needs to be exercised?
Paul often uses exercise metaphors when addressing the various churches he had planted. He reminds the church in Corinth:
“I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified”
(1 Corinthians 9:26–27).
Paul also encourages his protégé Timothy to keep fighting, finish the race, and—through it all—keep the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).
Let’s look at how the members of the early church exercised their faith to bless not only one another, but also their surrounding community.
First, they sacrificed their worldly possessions for the cause (v. 45a).
Boice notes:
They shared their goods because they were generous, and they were generous because they had learned generosity from God. God had been generous with them. So because God had been generous with them, they were determined to be generous with one another.
Generosity is not one of the “easy” virtues in life. We are all born selfish, so generosity takes some serious discipline and exercise. Try it—you may find that joy is your reward!
Second, they looked for needs and fulfilled them (v. 45b).
How often in our daily lives do we miss opportunities to bless someone through our generosity? We must exercise our hearts and train them to be receptive to those in need.
Lastly, we must exercise our faith daily (v. 46a).
This may include serving, joining a small group, or attending worship services. The Christian life is not meant to be done alone. Jesus surrounded Himself with people and only isolated Himself for prayer and spiritual renewal. The early church would never have grown without community—a topic we’ll touch on more tomorrow.
Put down the remote, turn off your device, get off the couch, and get out there and exercise your faith! As Paul reminds Timothy:
“Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come”
(1 Timothy 4:7b–8).
Physical exercise is important—but spiritual exercise is eternal!
Digging Deeper (er):
1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Proverbs 24:5; Romans 12:1
Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 5. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his more than 20 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.