Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it (1 Timothy 4:7-9 – NLT).
Before I even get into the thought I want to share today, let me make a disclaimer! Life has busy points and crazy times. Like when your first baby is born, or when you have a season and your children are going three different directions at one time with extra-curricular activities. Or, your job has you working overtime or out of town for a season. And on and on I could go here. I’m making a general, over a period of time statement today. So balance out your now with generally how things are most of the time with you. Here we go!
Your natural life is a direct reflection of your spiritual condition. What you are on the outside is the result of who you are within. The mental habits that you have spill over into every crevice of life, both natural and spiritual.
Our outward world parallels our inner world. When you make strides toward God, and increase in spirituality, there should also be a change in natural behavior, or it’s not true spiritual increase!
If you’re regularly late for work, you’ll also be late in being faithful to a volunteer ministry obligation. If you’re not passionate about natural life responsibilities, you won’t be passionate about spiritual responsibilities. If you see no value in obeying natural law, you may show the same disrespect for spiritual authority. If you’re a lazy bones naturally, and find it hard to get motivated to perform, you’ll be a lazy bones spiritually and will lack spiritual passion.
If I look in your car and see all kinds of debris in the floorboard and seats, and this is a regular pattern, it tells me that you don’t value excellence, and you’ll be prone to under perform spiritually! If I walk into your home and it’s consistently untidy, that tells a lot about your values. Excellence starts with thinking, and will filter into all we are and do.
When God started the process of changing my life with His Word, my natural life began to feel the pressure to change! I began to see the value of timeliness in everything. I began to see if I work as unto the Lord, I will give everything my best. I will give my best at home, at work, and just in the general things of life. And my life has been changing since that time!
When looking for those to help me in ministry, I look at these natural. A person can pray fervently, shout loudly, and preach hard! A person can talk a good talk. But if natural things don’t sing the same song, it’s not an accurate indicator of who the person really is!
Give yourself a check-up today. What’s your natural life saying about what you value right now? Began to live with this idea from Colossians 3:23-24 (Amplified): Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve.
Remember, your natural life is a direct reflection of your spiritual condition.