Celebrating Spiritual and Physical Fitness

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LESSON 3

*April 10 - 16

Celebrating Spiritual and Physical Fitness

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SABBATH AFTERNOON

Read for This Week's Study:

Ps. 139:13-15; 1 Cor. 3:16, 17; 9:24–27; Eph. 2:8; 2 Tim. 4:7; 2:3–5; Heb. 11:6.

Memory Text:

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31, NIV).

Much effort had gone into the preparation that ultimately led to Roger Bannister running the mile in under four minutes. There was endless training and practice that included, among other things, strenuous mountain climbing. Meanwhile, others around the world had their eyes on the prize that had meant so much to this young athlete. May 6, 1954, dawned, the day that Roger Bannister had been preparing for emotionally, spiritually, intellectually, and physically for years now. Yet, the morning before—he had slipped on a polished floor and limped the rest of that day! Nevertheless, the race began the next day, and Roger Bannister ran the mile in 3 minutes, 59.4 seconds—the first person to run the under-four-minute mile! Using imagery from athletics, the apostle Paul encourages us to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Heb. 12:1, NIV). Yet, the race Paul is talking about is a race so much more important than the one Roger Bannister won! This race demands our best possible spiritual and physical fitness, and an important component of that fitness is derived from exercise, our topic this week.

The Week at a Glance:

Physical exercise is a very important part of keeping and maintaining our health.

*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, April 17.