Less sugar, more of God’s Word
Diabetes, it seems, is still big news. Ever since Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong highlighted the threat of diabetes in his National Day Rally in August, we’ve been constantly reminded about the danger of one of Singapore’s biggest enemies—sugar.
Just this week, local media reported that 20 percent of people who used a diabetes risk assessment tool were found to have a higher risk of the disease. It’s not good news; Singapore already has one of the highest rates of diabetes among developed countries—one in 10. It’s yet another reminder to lead a healthy lifestyle. That means less soft drinks and sweet desserts, exercise more, and eat more healthily.
That’s good advice, and it’s biblical too. 1 Corinthians 6:19 reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and therefore we are to honour them.
But what about our spiritual health? Do we pay as much attention to it as we do to our physical health?
“Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.—1 Timothy 4:8”
Even though our physical bodies will die one day, we try to take good care of them—as we should. We make sure they get enough healthy food every day, we exercise them regularly to toughen them up, and we keep them away from diseases and anything that could weaken them.
Our inner man—our inner spirit—deserves the same treatment, if not better. It needs substantial helpings of the Word of God each day. It needs to be exercised often in God’s service. And it needs to be protected from practices, habits, and influences that draw us away from Christ.”
Being physically healthy is important, but being spiritually healthy is vital. In his letter to Timothy, Paul says: “Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8).”
Father, today I want to commit myself to spiritual health. Please make me hungry for Your Word and presence as I submit to the Holy Spirit’s work of training and transforming me so that I can be more and more like your Son, Jesus.
Take good care of your mortal bodies. Take even better care of your immortal souls.
