“(be)ing confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6
I walked into the gym and didn’t see my 3 tough-guy, work out friends in the back corner. These High Schoolers are an inspiration, and a hope to me, for many reasons. Standing alone adjusting the music pumping into my headphones, one of them came up to shake my hand and say hi! He was working out! In more ways than 1!
Taking off my headphones, I smiled and greeted him. Pointing over to his friends at the leg machine, I couldn’t believe my eyes!!! The weight those guys were pushing was so great as to be humbling! There’s NO way I could do that! I went over to say hi and ask how much was on the machine! “463 pounds,” they said!
Maybe I’m wrong, but it seems to me that everything in a gym is based upon WEIGHT. When I walk up to a machine and see that the last person to use it pressed TWICE what I did, it makes me wonder why I even bother! After all, ‘I’M GOING TO DIE ANYWAY!’ It’s an excuse I use a LOT to try to get out of working out. But people who care about me don’t really fall for my excuses!
When I stood in awe at the machine, I had this crazy idea and said… “Can I give that a try?” My young friends said…”SURE!” And moved away to let me in. They DIDN’T WALK AWAY! “You can DO IT!” was the mantra I heard as I heaved and pushed that 463 pounds… 1 time! They cheered me. And I felt like a champion.
Let me get this straight! I didn’t feel like a champion because I lifted the weight! I felt like a champion because of the guys who encouraged me! The guys have no real reason to even pay any attention to an old guy like me, much less cheer me on. But they DID. And, like weight on a bar, their actions proved the inside strength of character in their heart. And I appreciate them!
God pays attention to me! When HE wants to WORK OUT… HE comes to ME! I don’t deserve it and don’t even know why He bothers! But He DOES! His Word even gives me a promise that when I LET Him IN, He WILL work His Character OUT… through ME! Which usually comes in ways that ‘I’ can’t see.. But OTHERS can! I have learned to pay attention and always try to keep the door of my heart and spirit unlocked for Him to have access.
Are YOU letting Him Work Out – In You?
