Motivation matters. 

For example, people who do better in surgery are people who have a reason to live afterwards. It’s a matter of motivation.

Or consider the 17-year old girl who didn’t want to go to soccer practice. But then her mom told her that the scout for the university soccer team would be there. “Why didn’t you tell me? Where are my cleats! How soon can we leave?!” Her attitude changed. It was a matter of motivation. 

Then there’s Tom Arberson. He was the only one to volunteer when Big Brothers asked for help. Why? He had once been in the foster care system. Some key adults took a special interest in him. As a boy, this gave him confidence and security. Now as an adult he saw a younger version of himself in the eyes of a boy who looked lost. So he stepped up. It was a matter of motivation. 

With that in mind, spiritual muscle matters. Agreed. But we probably won’t do anything to make it happen unless we’re properly motivated. 

How’s this for motivation? If you do not grow spiritual muscle, not only will you suffer, but there is a risk that people around you will suffer as well.

In Mark 9:14-32 the disciples weren’t able to help a severely demonized boy. They asked Jesus: “Why couldn’t we drive [the demon] out?” He replied: “This kind can come out only by prayer” (Mark 9:28-29). 

In that text not only do we learn about their (lack of) consistent prayer, but the shallowness of their faith. As a result, there were unable to help.

Spiritual muscle matters. This is true not only for spiritual warfare, but for our lives as a whole. 

Two people enter the Boston marathon. One buys expensive shoes, posts about it on Instagram, but doesn’t do anything else. The other actually trains. On the day of the marathon one of them passes out after seven miles. Guess which one it was? Not the one who put in the time!

What if there was hurt or harm in our lives—or in the lives of the people we care about—that we were simply unable to address because of a lack of spiritual conditioning? 

Fortunately, God educates, equips, and trains us, not only to be victorious in the realm of spiritual warfare, but to share and show the light of Christ with the people around us and in the world at large. 

Let’s put in the time. Spiritual muscle makes a difference. Not only does this benefit you, but the people you care about.

Notes:

–“Why are some Christians spiritually stronger than others?” Click here. Sermon. February 16, 2025.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.