Workout of the Day

That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. Genesis 17:26

I woke up this morning sore everywhere. Why? Well, for weeks, I’ve been intending to do a specific workout – one of those workouts that I know is good for me but is also miserable. Every weekend for the last two months, I’ve thought about doing it – and then promptly done something else. So, this week, I recruited a buddy to do it with me. Yesterday when I woke up, I kind of hoped my buddy would sleep in, so I wouldn’t have to do that workout. But he showed up and we did it. It’s been weeks in the making and it hurt, but it was good for me and I’m glad I finally got it done.

Now compare that decision process making to my eating process. When it comes to eating, I don’t wait two months. Rather, when I’m hungry, I eat now. With those things I desire, I’m impulsive. When it comes to doing the healthy thing though, because it’s not immediately rewarding, I put it off as long as possible, perhaps never getting around to it. I know I should, but I don’t want to.

What if I always did the righteous, healthy, and good thing immediately? What if, when God commanded, I just automatically obeyed? How different would my life look?

Abraham wasn’t perfect, but when God commanded, he obeyed. In today’s passage, God told Abraham to circumcise himself, his son, and every male in his household. Abraham didn’t deliberate about it. He didn’t consult anyone. He didn’t wait, contemplating how much it was going to hurt. Instead, he just obeyed God immediately.

Abraham obeyed God like I obey my appetite – impulsively. What would that look like in my life? But God has never appeared to me, giving me any specific commands. If he did, I’d obey. I’ve been told however, how I’m supposed to live. I’m know that I’m meant to follow God, loving my neighbors. When I meet someone who’s drowning in the struggle, I’m supposed to share with him the love that God has shown me. It looks like you’re struggling. I’ve been there. God saved me from myself. Let’s get a cup of coffee and swap stories.

I know how I’m meant to live. Usually though, the right thing requires effort and sacrifice. So, I often put it off until the opportunity passes. I’m working on this though. I’d like to obey God like I obey my appetite. I know that, just like that workout, it’s going to require sacrifice and discomfort. Still, if I want to be spiritually, emotionally, and physically healthy, then daily, I must do what I know to be right – even when it’s the hard thing to do.