Daily Thought for Monday, September 5th

September 5, 2011

The Back To School Series

The Spiritual Implications of Education

Part Six – Physical Education

“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser:

 teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.”

Proverbs 9:9

Today’s Thought:

“The basic purpose of an education is to liberate the human being to exercise his or her potential to the fullest.”  – Barbara M. White

Today’s Quotes:

“The test and the use of man’s education is that he finds pleasure in the exercise of his mind.” – Jacques Bartzun

 

“It is remarkable how one’s wits are sharpened by physical exercise.” – Pliny The Younger

Today’s Question

Have you ever considered that a byproduct of exercise and physical training might do more than get you in good shape: it might shape you up for what life will require? “Perhaps the most valuable result of education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not.”  –   Walter Bagehot

Today’s Bible Verses:                1 Timothy 4:4-7 & Hebrews 12:1-2

For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“Real education consists in drawing the best out of yourself.” –  Mahandas Gandhi

Physical Education or Gym was not one of my favorite periods in Middle or High School: Contrary to the fact that as an elementary school student, recess was cherished.

Part of this, may be due largely to the fact that recess was free playtime and gym was structured exercise.  While not all of us are adverse to a good workout; by-in-large most of our society avoids real physical training like it is a plague.

“Some people exercise by jumping to conclusions, some by side-stepping their responsibilities, but most people get it by running down their friends.” – Evan Esar

This seems to be a truth that is prevalent not only in our society but in our churches as well.

While most faith based instruction does not include such things as sit-ups, push-ups, jumping jacks, running, and team sports related activities: it does encompass some of the fundamentals that are found in a good Physical Education curriculum.

These are things like commitment, even when things aren’t easy and the task seems to hard.

Gradual progress by building up to higher levels and longer durations; rather than trying to do it all on the first attempt.

Cooperation and a team mentality; realizing it takes the whole team working in unity to achieve the goal,

Physical education, like spiritual education requires discipline, effort, sacrifice and commitment for the long haul.  To become physically fit requires a lot of effort and energy; as it also does to become spiritually fit.

And just like you can never stop working at it if you want to stay fit physically:  you must persevere, endure and continue to exercise your faith, flex your prayer muscles and develop and maintain your ability to have staying power and endurance by studying God’s word, fellowshipping with like believers and actively serving God by getting off your good intentions and gong out into all the world to preach the gospel.

To stay healthy and fit a continued course of physical education is recommended for life; to stay spiritually fit and healthy you need to have a spiritual education program too. 

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.” –

2 Timothy 2:15

Today’s Prayer:

Father help me to develop a plan of exercises and activities that will keep me both physically and spiritually fit so I can be at my best, in all regards, to do my best for you.