“Things I Learned About Worship At The Gym” (Ready to Worship S16E2)

September 9, 2022

Host: Wade Webster | Released Friday, September 9, 2022

This season on Ready to Worship, we are discussing some things that we have learned or can learn about worship from the gym. I am convinced that in just a short time, we will all be in better shape for worship. In the first lesson, we noticed that we usually feel better after going to the gym/worship. In this second installment, we will notice that going to the gym/worship helps us to make better choices.

I will admit it. I make better choices when I go to the gym. When I am putting in the work, I watch everything that I eat and drink. Sodas, sweet tea, bread, pizza, pasta, chips, crackers, candy, and desserts are on the naughty list. They just aren’t worth the work that it takes to burn them off. Do you know how many steps and how much sweat it takes to burn off a can of soda or a candy bar? If you know, then they are probably on your naughty list also. If you don’t know, then I suggest that you go to the gym, get on a treadmill, and watch how long it takes to burn 150-200 calories. It will probably surprise you. It will probably convince you to reconsider the choices that you make everyday. I know that it has that effect on me. We all know that nutrition and exercise go together. We all know that if we eat the wrong things, they will nullify much, if not all, of the time and effort that we expend at the gym. We know that we will make little or no progress toward losing weight and getting into shape until we coordinate our eating with our exercise.

Like the gym, worship drives us to make better choices. In worship, we are required to examine ourselves. On a weekly basis, we are required to take a serious look at the shape of our souls. In connection with the Lord’s Supper, Paul wrote, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup” (1 Cor. 11:28; cf. 2 Cor. 13:5). This examination is good for us. It makes us think back over the past week and the choices that we made. It makes us consider whether those choices worked for or against our souls. We know that it does little or no good for us to draw nigh to God in worship on Sunday, if we have been friends with the world the past week (Jam. 4:4). When we get serious about worship, it affects every choice that we make. It drives us to gird up the loins or the loose ends of our minds that we may be holy as God is holy. Peter wrote, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1 Pet. 1:13-15). Fleshly lusts war against our souls. We must abstain from them (1 Pet. 2:11). Being in God’s holy presence in worship, compels us to be careful what we feed our hearts and minds during the week. Going to worship helps us to make better choices in our lives (Prov. 4:23). We cannot feed our minds anything and everything during the week and benefit from worship on Sunday.

As we get ready to worship this week, let’s think of the choices that we made this last week. Were they consistent with those seeking to be in the presence of a holy God? How will going to worship affect the choices that we make next week?