Man Code entries are designed for parents or adults seeking to mold young boys into strong Christian men. Previous entries can be found here.

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:8

Every guy wants to be ripped, to be so outwardly muscular that everyone stops and takes a look. Guys can spend hours a week pounding weights in the gym just to get the outward look they’re looking for. But the Apostle Paul told a younger Christian Timothy that as great as it is to be physically strong, it doesn’t come close to comparing with being spiritually strong. As much as you work to stay physically fit, you’ll one day grow old (and maybe fat) and die. Happens to the best of us. But those who are spiritually ripped make a difference in this life and the next. So how do you get spiritually ripped? Where’s the spiritual gym where you can go to lift some spiritual weights? Here are four things you can do to get started:

1). Read the Bible. If you don’t like to read, you need to get over it and learn to love reading. (Just like people who don’t like to go to the gym and workout need to get over it and start going to the gym). God recorded His words to us in what we call the Bible, and you need to read it as often as possible. Study it, watch sermons on it, start a Bible study, memorize it. The Bible is like a protein shake for your soul. The more you consume, the stronger you’ll become.

2). Talk with God. The more you talk with God, the more like Him you’ll become, and don’t forget God is the One who created the entire universe by simply saying a few words. That’s strong! Learn to pray not just at meals and at bedtime but throughout the day. Prayer doesn’t have to be formal with your head bowed and your eyes closed. Talk with God like you would talk to your best friend. The strength of your prayer life determines your spiritual strength.

3). Obey the Holy Spirit. You can’t stop at reading the Bible and praying if you want to get spiritually ripped. You’ve got to actually do something. All those things that you read in the Bible, those aren’t suggestions. Those are commands about how we should live our lives. As you obey what God tells you to do, it’s like adding more weights on the machine. Obedience will make you spiritually ripped.

4). Serve others. The true sign of spiritual maturity (being spiritually ripped) is when you don’t focus on yourself anymore. You serve others. When you obey the Holy Spirit, He will always lead you to other people that need Jesus. So in the end, the very best way to get spiritually ripped is to not just focus on yourself. Focus on serving others.

QUESTION: Which one of these four steps can you begin to do this week to start getting spiritually ripped? Make a plan and stick to it!