Recently I stumbled upon this image of a sculpture by Jon D. Hair:

Rather timely in this Olympic year. (Then again, isn’t His timing always perfect?)

The same week I found this image, I learned the Hebrew words of neshama (spirit), nefesh (mind/soul) and guf (body), noting that nefesh represents both mind and soul. Similarly we read in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 that in preparation for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ we must be sure to keep our whole spirit, soul, and body blameless. So in reading the inscription of the sculpture meant to speak to Olympians and athletes everywhere, we see a direct correlation to God’s living word as written by Paul to the church of Thessalonica and believers everywhere. Paul’s purpose in 1 Thessalonians was to strengthen the faith of Christians and to pass on the assurance of Christ’s return. Paul also encouraged believers to live as though they expected Christ to return at any moment. No one knows when Jesus will return and so while we wait we are to remain faithful to God. In other words, we are to remain blameless with our whole spirit, soul, and body. Perfect, pure, unblemished.

Often times as believers we focus on the strengthening of our neshama and nefesh, our spirit and our soul. And while spending time in prayer and bible study are important disciplines to strengthen our walk with Christ, we can not neglect the importance of keeping our guf (body/flesh) strong as well, especially when we consider that attacks of the flesh are where the enemy really gets us. So dedicate time each day to pray in you prayer closet, in your backyard or at church, but also dedicate just as much time to working out at home, outside, or at the gym. As your spirit is strengthened by trials and tribulations in life, so will your body be strengthened by those extra weights you lift and those additional thirty minutes you spend challenging your heart and lungs. And as you feed your soul each day with the living word of God, feed your body each day with nutritious, whole food. Just as His Word re-energizes your mind and soul, so will nutritious food re-energize your body.We know that Olympic athletes train each day with the hope of achieving gold in four years. As God’s saints so must we train each day for the gold that awaits us in His Kingdom. And so I pray, in the words of Paul, May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

READ IT:

SEE IT:

Click here to watch Yahweh(feat. Kari Jobe )-