January 2011 is here and rapidly fading into history!  This month is the month that is focused on most for changing habits, becoming more fit, getting rid of addictions and habits, becoming debt-free, etc…  Of course all of these I have mentioned are resolutions to help the flesh. What if we added the spiritual man to our resolutions? I believe we would be able to conquer more of them, don't you? 1 Timothy 4:8 says, Bodily exercise is all right, but spiritual exercise is much more important and is a tonic for all you do.  So exercise yourself spiritually and practice being a better Christian, because that will help you not only now in this life, but in the next life too. TLB Spiritual exercise? This seems a little strange to some of us.  The definition of exercise is nothing more than repetitive exertion to something in order to gain knowledge and skill in that area.  After reading this definition I would have to say my personal interpretation of spiritual exercise is having daily time with God and his Word in some form of prayer and study.

I have been thinking for quite some time now on my resolutions for this year.  I want and desire to see my "spiritual man" change and grow. So, I decided instead of focusing on "me", the flesh, I am going to focus on my "spiritual man" this year.  There are a lot of resolutions out there for the spiritual man; pray more, read the Bible more, go to church more often etc… However, I want to be a little more detailed in my New Year’s Resolution and that is to focus this year on having more of God’s love as described in 1 Corinthians 13.  Verses 1-3 in The Living Bible says: If I had the gift of being able to speak in other languages without learning them, and could speak in every language there is in all of heaven and earth, but didn’t love others, I would only be making noise.  If I had the gift of prophecy and knew all about what is going to happen in the future, knew everything about everything, but didn’t love others, what good would it do?  Even if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, I would still be worth nothing at all without love.  If I gave everything I have to the poor people, and if I were burned alive for preaching the Gospel but didn’t love others, it would be of no value whatever. 

Do we really know what the true meaning of love is in our society today?  I really don’t think so because love in this day is described most of the time as a feeling that makes us warm and happy; a “one-sided feeling that makes us feel good”.  But you see love is more than that.  Love is not only about receiving but it’s about giving.  I think Paul describes it best in great detail what love is and what love is not in the next 4 verses of chapter 13 in The Living Bible Translation. Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong.  It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out.  If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost.  You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him. 

Love is selfLESS not selfISH.  Love doesn’t think of oneself all the time but love thinks of others constantly. My prayer and focus this year is to exercise love even more in my marriage, my family, my church family and every one that I meet on a daily basis.  I invite you to join me this year in making God’s love the first and foremost priority of your life. Until next time….