I’m out of my comfort zone with this topic. But, God is speaking to me.

Here’s the dilemma. American Christians are obese.

Now, hear me out. I’m not talking about physical obesity (there’s enough people out there doing that, and rightly so).

I’m talking about spiritual obesity.

And we just keep getting fatter. Do you know where I’m going with this?

We keep filling up our bodies with spiritual food and we’re not doing anything with it.

Spiritual obesity is an epidemic in the church of epic proportions.

We’re like the person who’s sitting on the couch watching T.V. and eating a bag of chips. And when we’ve devoured the whole bag, we go into the kitchen and get a heaping bowl of ice cream. Of course, this is bad for our health. And then, of course, without exercise, we’ll just keep adding on the lbs.

But do you see how we do the same with our spiritual lives? We go to church every week and listen to great sermons. We attend Bible study, small group, Christian conferences and seminars, workshops, meetings, etc.

And then, of course, we can’t forget the Christian get-together’s where we discuss spiritual things. We serve in the church and minister to God’s people.

Now, please understand that none of these things are wrong. They are all GOOD. We need to be nourished with God’s Word and equip believers.

But, I’m pretty sure that God never intended for us to just get fat spiritually. He wants us to live healthy spiritual lives.

Jesus never spent all His time with His own, but He moved among the poor, the destitute, and the sinners.

Here are some things Jesus said…

“You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-14).

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Matthew 25:35-36).

“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

We read in Matthew 9:35 that “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.”

I’m fairly positive that every city was comprised mostly of non-believers, hurting, wounded, sick, and starving souls.

Yet, Jesus went to them and ministered among them.

If we want to be on mission with Jesus and thin out our bulging bodies, then we need to do the same. We need to give back. So many people need Jesus.

Recently, I met a girl who was having knee-replacement surgery. I asked her if she had people setting up meals for her family, like my church did for me after my knee surgery. She said, “No.” I knew in my heart I needed to do that for her – so that I could give back to God what He so graciously gave to me.

God has given us so much and it should be our privilege to give back to Him by serving others.

So, this is my challenge to you. Ask God what He would have you do. Perhaps a Mission trip from your church, preparing food for someone who’s been in the hospital, inviting a neighbor you don’t know well over for coffee, or volunteering at a crisis center or inner-city mission.

I’m taking this challenge, too.

I’m using a friend as my inspiration. She’s busy and works full-time. Yet, she goes every summer on a 10-day mission program to New York City for street evangelism. And she just finished a grueling training to volunteer at a women’s center. If she can do it, so can I.

If we move out of our comfort areas and strive to be on mission with Jesus, then we will be strong and healthy Christians who are bringing glory to God.

I want that. Do you?

You may want to write down your prayer and then trust God to show you.

Have a wonderful week…

Love and Blessings,