Eastertide
April 20, 2017

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. –1 Peter 1:3-5

I wear a fitness bracelet designed to make me aware of how much exercise I get each day and how much sleep I get with options of also recording how much food I eat and how much water I drink. It is helpful, particularly for one who does not come by exercise naturally. Last night I went to bed about 11:00 pm. This morning my bracelet tells me I went to sleep at 12:13 am. I have no clue how it knows these things, but the minute my head met my pillow my brain started racing through several things that were bothering me most over which I had little or no control except how they affected me. The bracelet was probably right; I lost over an hour of sleep stewing. It made me wonder how one could develop a spiritual fitness measurement tool.

As with physical fitness so also in spiritual fitness keeping our bodies well nurtured and awash in the cleansing power of the spirit is essential. Practicing routinely the spiritual disciplines of study, prayer, service, and worship among others prepares us well for what life throws at us. Nothing surpasses the love of God in the gift of God’s son Lord Jesus Christ who is able and willing to give us newness of life whenever we seek it.

Prayer:
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
   test me and know my thoughts.
See if there is any wicked way in me,
   and lead me in the way everlasting. Amen. (Psalm 139:23-24)

All scriptures are quoted from the new Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.