Float Like A Butterfly, Sting Like A Bee
According to CrossFit, true fitness is made up of 10 skills. They are Cardiovascular and Respiratory Endurance, Stamina, Strength, Flexibility, Power, Speed, Coordination, Agility, Balance, and Accuracy. Take a moment and try to define each one in your own words from a physical standpoint. Over the next 2 weeks we'll be going over what it means to get ready and stay ready as it applies to these 10 physical skills and how they should manifest in our spiritual lives.
Today we're reviewing AGILITY which is the ability to transition from one movement pattern to another in the least amount of time. The best example of agility can be seen in a boxer as they bounce back and forth and side to side in an attempt to dodge their opponent’s punches.
When you look at their feet, they’re always moving but not aimlessly - they’re moving with purpose. And even though they’re moving quickly, there’s still a very important process going on. With each move, the boxer must think, plan and react - and he must do so quickly.
Why is this necessary for us to remember? From a physical perspective, agility is an important skill for us to practice for injury prevention. As we age, falls become more prevalent simply because we lose our ability to balance and react quickly enough to save ourselves from falling.
In life however, the need for mental agility will show up on a daily basis. Each time we multi-task, we’re using mental agility to think, plan and react appropriately. The faster that we can process and react to the task at hand, the more quickly we can get them done.
- Assess your level of physical and mental agility on a scale of 1-10
What about spiritual agility? Spiritually, Jesus was the best example of agility. His mission to bring salvation to the lost had him constantly on the move and interacting with different situations and people. All the while , He performed healings and miracles but also confronted and corrected many with the truth. On an emotional level, He experienced joy, anger, heartache and many other emotions as well. Through all of this, He never faltered in what He set out to do and always did things according to the will of His Father.
How do we show spiritual agility like Jesus? Think back to our previous example of a boxer. Imagine now they're boxing while standing in the sand. Suddenly, their agility is not as good simply because the ground beneath them has changed. However when they're back on solid ground, they’ll be able to move with no problem. In the same sense, spiritual agility is developed first because we can stand firm in God (Psalms 62:1-8). We need to have firm footing to be able to think, plan and react the way God wants us to (Matthew 7:24-27).
- How does knowing that we can stand firm in God help us with spiritual agility?
Read Colossians 3:12-17. How can this passage help us to become more "spiritually agile"?
- Clothe yourself properly (verse 12 and 14)
- Forgive quickly (that includes yourself)
- Let peace rule your heart
- Teach Christ
- Do it ALL for Christ