TODAY IS…

a superb day to take the stairs.

“Then He said, ‘I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.’”  John 1:51 NLT

There are many people who, given a choice between an elevator and a few flights of stairs will take the stairs. It gives them a little bit of exercise and is good for them.These are physical stairs that provide us with real physical benefit.

The stairs that Jesus was speaking to His disciples about were spiritual stairs and could only be seen with the help of spiritual insight. It only stands to reason then that they can only be climbed by those who are in good spiritual health.

Many of us spend a considerable amount of time, effort, and money on our appearance and on our physical health. It is important to our families that we take care of ourselves physically so that we may be able to take care of them. We want to be strong and healthy because we love them.

We also love God, and we have an obligation to our families regarding Him as well. We must be strong and healthy spiritually so that we can follow Jesus’ instruction when He said, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, andwith all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.”(Mark 12:30 NASB).

Becoming spiritually strong and healthy and maintaining that spiritual health and strength is a lot easier than we think. It certainly doesn’t require the physical exertion and sweat that strengthening our body does. Exercising to build and maintain our spiritual health can be uplifting, rewarding, pleasant,and exciting as we follow Jesus as He practices, heals, and serves the people He loved so much and came to save.

How can anyone complain about exercising to improve our spiritual health when it involves reading the words, and “hearing” with our hearts, the voice of Jesus as He tried to show everyday people that each and every one of them was special to Him. What a terrific sweat-free hour can be spent exercising our faith as we read about Christ setting a perfect example for us to follow.

If we do not exercise, if we do not take care of ourselves, if we do not eat right, stair climbing can be a very painful experience for us. If we are out of shape, there simply is no way that we can ever make it to the top.

It is the same climbing the stairway to heaven. We must exercise faithfully and regularly so that we are always in the best spiritual health possible. Then, we are always ready to take the stairs.

*******

Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson