Exercised Senses

In my reading this morning the phrase 'exercised in their spiritual senses' caught my eye. It made me look for the concept in the scriptures.

"But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Heb 5:14

What an interesting verse to study in the Greek. The word for 'exercised' is Gymnazo (G1128) which is a repetitive lifestyle of vigorous exercise. 'Of full age' is the word Teleios (G5046) which is a picture of completion or of being perfected.

The idea is that a believer is living in an illumination of the ramifications of Christ's finished work while at the same time having a lifestyle of repetitive spiritual exercise. That exercise in not physical in nature it is perceptive in nature. It is to vigorously look and listen for something daily. The word then makes a distinction between what is beautiful and what is base or destructive.

"But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness." Titus 4:7

So we don't settle for the common, the philosophical, the mythological or the opinionated. We seek the godliness that is directly connected to what has brought us to completion. Strong meat belongs to the 'finished work crowd.' It belongs to them that are looking for something and that sense of completion is something they keep with them as they walk into the Gymnasium of study and of life. That everyday exercise is a discipline of seeking the upper things and not settling for the lower ones.

This is not an exercise of effort. It is a constant repetitive focus and exploration of our sense.

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." Heb 12:1-3

The ones who have gone before have witnessed and are witnesses of His glory and we fix our senses on Him now by faith having the reality of redemption color how we perceive everything else in our lives.

We look to Jesus and allow everything to pass through the filter of the cross. Thoughts pass through channels and they are directed through death, burial and resurrection instead of just entering our mind as information that is interesting but dead.

How will I see people today? Will my senses be exercised to see them through God's plan of redemption or will I just live in reaction or need?

God help us. Open our eyes and help us live in a discipline of seeking you regularly. If you reveal things today we will truly see people in correct perspective. We look to you. Thank you.