Physical exercise is vital to our health as human beings. If we continually take in fuel (food) without burning it, we will become flabby and sluggish and eventually suffer all kinds of health consequences.

The same principle applies to our spiritual lives. You may be very good at taking spiritual food into your life by reading God's Word or going to church, but if you do not do anything with that food, you will not remain healthy very long.

We understand the idea of physical exercise, but how do you exercise spiritually? Quite simply by doing something with the spiritual truths you are taking into your life from God's Word: obeying God's commands, applying His principles in your life, choosing to do what God shows you from the Bible.

God's formula for growth in the Christian life is really very simple. He shows us a truth from His Word. We make a choice to obey and God accomplishes His purpose in our lives. Then He shows us something else from His Word, and we go through the process all over again (see Colossians 1:9-10).

It is God's responsibility to give the growth, to accomplish His purpose in our lives. Our part is to learn from the Bible and to choose to obey. All too often we think that it is enough to know what the Bible has to say. God wants us to do what the Bible has to say.