Athletes do exercises for physical conditioning for their craft. Students do exercises for their lessons. These are methods of learning and preparation and skill development. In these cases they are usually highly structured and focused. Do you think that your spiritual life would benefit from exercises? Different faith traditions approach this question from different perspectives and practices. Some are highly freestyle, and some have none at all. The cause and effect relationship of effort and benefit may not be as obvious for spiritual exercises as it is for calisthenics and academic study, but is this something you can neglect or leave to chance?

Do you always do the right thing? Have you ever done the right thing for the wrong reason? Is it possible to do the wrong thing for the right reason? The motivation for your actions does matter. Paul noted that some preached Christ out of division and strife, but was still pleased that the gospel message was going forth. But how much better to do it out of love? The wrong motives will not lead to the right actions consistently and in the long run, and it is the transformation of your being that I am looking for more than superficial compliance. The same action taken with the motivation of love is a better action.

Are you an evangelist? My Great Commission was given to all who follow me. Have you received instruction in evangelical work? Did it include listening? Most approaches to sharing my message have the believer do all the talking. Yet in the Biblical example of the woman at the well I listened to what she had to say, so there was a back and forth dialogue. You may not agree with someone’s perspective on eternal truth, but it won’t hurt you to listen to their story. Do you understand that you are asking them to be accept the transformation of the very foundation of their lives? Would you do that for someone who wouldn’t listen to you?

Paul knew both how to be abased and how to abound. Do you? If everyone is in one condition or the other would it follow logically that everyone would know how to behave in their own circumstances even if they did not know how to act in unfamiliar circumstances? Yet many do not know how to do either. Having an improper understanding of true wealth will cause the poor to resent their condition and the wealthy to trust in uncertain riches and make an idol of them. Money is the focus in either case. If your focus is on me you can trust me with your needs and not lose sight of me when I meet them. Then you too can be abased and abound, judging all things.