Glimpses of the Kingdom...
I like the host of images that the word ‘health’ promotes with regards to spiritual, physical, emotional, and even relational well-being. From the individual body to the body of Christ, a healthy body relies on regular exercise and healthy nutrition.
Exercise is essential for maintaining all aspects of health, and spiritual health is no exception. Flexing and using our spiritual muscles of prayer, scripture reading, worship, service, learning, and (add your own to the list) improves health, increases strength, and gives balance to every individual body and to the body of Christ.
When it comes to nutrition, a diet rich in the bread and cup of our Lord, and heavy on the spiritual fruits of kindness, gentleness, peace, etc. is essential to sustain the life of faith. May we all exercise and eat well for the good of the whole body.
Being healthy is important; being spiritual healthy is a matter of faith. Spiritual health is also an expression of our faithfulness to God and of our baptismal vow to become Christ for the world. So, what does spiritual health look like? Here is what it looks like to me for this season of Easter and into the coming days of Pentecost.
H EART. We are disciples called by God to have a heart that pulses with the life and presence of the Resurrected Jesus.
E NERGY. We are expected to be vibrant and alive with the joy of faith through our worship, singing, celebrations, and fellowship.
A BUNDANCE. We are filled with the abundance of God’s grace, and in turn called upon to give and share abundantly our resources for the needs of others.
L OVE. We are encountered, like Peter, in the midst of everyday life by the Risen Christ and commanded to love as Jesus loves.
T IME. We are to be generous with our time in service, mission, and ministry to the world outside our doors, down the streets, across the land, and beyond the oceans.
H OPE. We are to be a living witness of God’s Kingdom, providing hope for others as they come to experience and know the gift of salvation.
And finally, one vital long-term benefit of being in good spiritual health is growth, for both the individual body and the body of Christ.
Peace,
William.