Boot Camp for the Soul

             I just completed three weeks of Boot Camp for 55+!  If I said that it was not difficult, I would be lying.  If I said that it was not challenging, I would be lying.  If I said that it was not invigorating, I would be lying, and if I said that I didn’t enjoy it, I would be lying.  Any kind of strenuous workout is both difficult and invigorating at the same time.  While I felt stretched to the limit, when it was finished for the day, I felt renewed energy despite the sore muscles. 

            In many ways, Bible Study is like Boot Camp.  At Boot Camp, we had coaches who carefully guided us to keep us on track and showed us exactly how to do the various exercises.  In Bible Study, teachers do the same to help us better understand the Scripture.  Our Boot Camp coaches were carefully selected to ensure that they had the education and training to work with the older crowd.  In the same way, we must choose our Bible Study teachers carefully to ensure that they are true to the Scripture in their teachings.

            Boot Camp included lots of strength training to build muscles that had gone dormant through lack of use.  In the same way, Scripture Memorization is a form of “strength” training, as we learn to rely on the Scripture in every aspect of our lives.

            Boot Camp often took me out of my comfort zone as a lot of the exercise required us to get down on the floor, something that doesn’t come as easy as it once did.  Still, the movements were necessary to increase my mobility. Many Bible books, like Revelation or some of the minor prophets, also take us out of our comfort zone, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t lessons to learn from them.  They each have those tidbits of knowledge that teach us more about God.

            Finally, Boot Camp emphasized practicality and stability in the exercises that we did.  Simple things like being able to stand up easily or maintaining our balance were routine parts of many of the exercises.  Similarly, the Bible is a very practical book.  Books like Proverbs set out the practical rules for living, and the Scripture helps us to maintain the balance in our lives that God desires for us.

            Whether you are considering Boot Camp for the physical body or “Boot Camp” for the soul, I urge you to jump in wholeheartedly.  Our physical body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 6: 19), and He deserves only the best in accommodations.  Our Spiritual body should be a “living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1 NIV84).  That can only be accomplished when we spend time in His Word. 

            Boot Camp may sound ominous, but maybe it’s time that we considered it from the “invigorating” standpoint.  I hope each of us will get some physical exercise today but don’t neglect the Spiritual exercise.  Make God smile today when He sees your renewed energy and faith.

I Corinthians 6: 19, 20

Romans 12: 1, 2

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