Parables

-My Fitness My Ministry 

Jesus spoke in parables to many people. When asked by his disciples why he spoke in parables he told them "The knowledge of the kingdom has been given to you, but not to them." Matthew 13:11 NIV. Every believer is a disciple of Christ and as his disciples we are each given the ability to understand the parables of life.

Jesus said "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing they do not hear or understand." Matthew 13:13 NIV. Parables need to be broken down in order for people to understand them. Then once they are understood, they can be practiced and once they are practiced and repeatedly practiced they begin to take root in the life of that individual.

The parable I have been given to understand is that of fitness, health or physical wellness. So lets break down how proper fitness and nutrition are parables: Everyday in one way or another we are shown or told about the latest healthy food or the best way to lose weight, however our nation is overcome with obesity. Why? Because just like Matthew 13:13 states we are seeing and hearing but not understanding HOW to make exercise and proper nutrition a part of our daily lives. We know we should do these things but it is never truly understood how to go about them. Therefore, it is never practiced and never takes root. So, just as in the parable, you know it, don't understand it, never practice it and ultimately it never takes root in your life. So, if you are not losing weight or prospering the way you feel you should be, look closely at how you are understanding and following instruction.

In Matthew 13:15 Jesus said "For the people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them."

Callous - being hardened and thickened
Atherosclerosis - a process of progressive thickening and hardening of the walls of medium- sized and large arteries as a result of fat deposits on their inner lining.

Matters of the heart. When our arteries become thick and hardened it is difficult and in some instances, fatally impossible, for blood to flow to major organs such as...the heart.

In Proverbs 4:23 we are taught that we are to guard our hearts! How might we guard them? Jesus says at the end of Matthew 13:15 that if people would turn to him he would heal them.

In the physical wellness parable, Jesus is the healing exercise and proper nutrition. If you open your eyes and ears to understand your own physical wellness, you will practice it and practice it some more until it takes root in your life.

God has blessed me to understand physical wellness (Matthew 13:16), while many people in our current society are trying to figure out this weight loss thing (Matthew 13:17).

Lastly, James 1:22 says "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." Upon reading the entire paragraph you find that if you ingest and live out instruction, biblical as well as physical, your efforts will be blessed!

I encourage you to become understanding doers of your own physical wellness!

God Bless
Tausha
1 Corinthians 3:16-17