Understanding Fitness

"Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, 'Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.' And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.' Then He said to another, 'Follow Me.' But he said, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.' Jesus said to him, 'Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.' And another also said, 'Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid farewell who are at my house.' But Jesus said to him, 'No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, IS FIT for the kingdom of God.' "

fit- adapted or suited for a purpose; prepared or ready; in good physical condition; equipped (4 of 20 for fit(1) in Webster's College Dictionary)

When I heard His call to ministry, I immediately began to think in which direction to go with it. I thought I knew and we, our family, prepared to go in that direction. Thrilling at first but after the "thrill" of the move waned, I began to experience a significant decrease in strength: not physically, but within. My spirit and soul were grieved and we did not last, we went back to where we came from. I was sure of His calling yet unsure of where/how to apply it. Embarrassingly, I did that a number of times. Finally, the Lord reminded me that I should "humble myself under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:6,7). I would say that means He knows when you are ready to assume the place in His body that He has gifted and called you to.

After having designed my way into ministry, I would read the scripture reference regarding fitness and wonder if I had been declared unfit by God because I had turned back. I won't speak for everyone (I'm quite sure there are others who have designed their way), but fitness for His kingdom is coming to me as He builds, first understanding that He must show me how to decrease so that He may increase. It is the message of the cross of Jesus Christ: to those of us who are being saved, it is the power of God. With that power of God, ready to persevere unto completion. Fit!

"Therefore WE ALSO, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of OUR faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1,2)