Yoga

I recently started doing Yoga on YouTube because I realized that I can barely touch my toes. I have the flexibility of a hammer.

I found a channel on YouTube that produces yoga videos for all skill levels. Since I started yoga, I’ve lost a little weight, I have less pain, and my posture has improved.

But in order for me to get the benefits of Yoga, I have to actually do what the instructor says.

Can you imagine how pointless it would be if I just sat in a chair, propped my feet up, ate a snack, and watched the Yoga videos without actually doing the exercises? I would be in the same or worse physical shape now that I was when I began.

As ridiculous as an image of someone just sitting and watching exercise videos is, that's how many of us treat the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Jesus knew that there were people who would listen to what He said, agree, but not do anything about it. 

That's one reason He finished His most famous sermon by telling the people who were listening to actually do what He said (Matthew 7:24-27):

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the steams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Jesus tells us that storms will hit our area. He never promises that we will be exempt from adversity. If we hear, but ignore, His teachings, we won’t be prepared for the storms of life.

Exploring the Bible Exercise:

Jesus once preached a famous sermon that we call The Sermon on the Mount. You can read it in Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7.

Take some time to read the through The Sermon on the Mount and underline or highlight every teaching Jesus shares that you currently don’t practice.

If you lived out those teachings, introducing just one at a time, in what ways would your life be different?