November 6

FRATERNITY is building spiritual muscles

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.  ~ 2 Thessalonians 1:3

Living in the spiritual realm is much like preparing for a race in the physical realm.  At one point I’m working on speed, then endurance, then on muscle tone.  When not actually running I’m conscious of diet, of rest, and other factors.  There are strategies and goals to be considered.
Spiritual growth progresses according to much the same pattern.  Every incident I face throughout the day is intended to “train” my spiritual muscles of patience or kindness or reliance on the LORD.  The difficulties and trials I continue to encounter teach me endurance in much the same way a ten-mile run every morning does for my body.
Once my competitive running days were behind me, I continued to train, but in a different way.  My goal became modeling myself after Jesus – ridding myself of old attitudes, letting Christ put in His way of thinking and acting.
And that is the essence of growth, the essence of life itself.  That is where the abundant and fulfilling life originates – by living according to the example of Jesus.  It is a life outside of one’s self, a life founded in a loving and intimate relationship with God the Father.  ~ Jim Ryun, In Quest of God

How will our council exercise faith this month in a specific way?

Honor lies in honest toil.  ~ Grover Cleveland