We already know that the heroine of Proverbs 31 is a hard worker but Proverbs 31:17 gives us a little more detail about her,
her arms are strong for her tasks
Proverbs 31:17, NIV
Translation, the Proverbs 31 woman is ripped!
As followers of Christ, who model ourselves after this woman and, we also, have a work to do (check out the Great Commission in Matthew 16) and we need muscles of the spiritual variety to do it!
Strength isn’t just mentioned in Proverbs, it pops up in Ephesians too!
Finally, be strong, in the Lord and his mighty power.
Ephesians 6:10, NIV
Hmmm…be strong in the Lord.
I know what is required to build muscle in my physical body but what is required to build spiritual muscle?
I think the answer to that question is also found in Ephesians 6.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waste.
Ephesians 6:14
To be strong in the Lord and do the work he has for us, we must know TRUTH which is the Word of God!
It is knowledge of the Word that builds a Christians spiritual muscle!
But, building muscle, both physically and spiritually, requires something we don’t typically enjoy, WORK!
It may sound sacrilegious to say that reading the Word and filling yourself with muscle building truth is work but check out the definition of work,
activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result
Google English Dictionary, 2020
A physical effort to get something done!
True study of the Word, the kind that builds spiritual muscle by saving the truth in your heart, definitely requires effort!
I don’t know about you but, when I wake up late, the first part of my morning routine that I skip over is, unfortunately, Bible reading.
I whisper a quick prayer and dive headlong into my day without disciplining myself to do the work of muscling up with the truth.
Am I a follower of Christ? Absolutely!
But my muscles didn’t receive their workout and an attribute of muscles, physical and spiritual, is that they don’t stay firm without frequent workouts! They become weak and, eventually, flabby! Unattractive. Ineffective. Unable to lift large loads.
So, today, I challenge myself and you! Lift the weights of the Word. Hide it in your heart. Become spiritually ripped!
With those muscles firm and strong, you can wear the rest of the Lord’s armor and be like the Proverbs 31 woman, ready to work!
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