January 8 - Become Like Jesus, Get Healthy
“Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.” (Luke 2:52)
Devotional Thought: In times past, some people measured their physical growth with a ruler. That reminds us that we sometimes think about how much we've grown physically since our childhood years. But another question is, “How healthy have we become over the years?” When the Bible says “Jesus grew in stature” it means He grew physically. And since Jesus always made right decisions we can assume that He was physically healthy as well as intellectually brilliant. So, are you physically healthy? Some people are, but most of us need to become physically healthier to some degree in 2026.
Physicians and nutritionists tell us that many people in our nation and world are not really physically healthy. Why is that? Many people in today’s world are not in good health because they’re overweight, they’re addicted to alcohol or drugs or because they haven’t taken the necessary steps to pursue physical health.
In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 the Apostle Paul wrote, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit . . .? Therefore honor God with your body.” Those verses indicate to us we need to work on becoming physically healthier as well as emotionally and spiritually healthier in 2026. So, what are some steps we can take to do that? To become physically healthier we need to: 1) make smart choices when we eat or drink (Galatians 6:7), 2) regularly evaluate our body (Mark 2:17), 3) exercise consistently (1 Timothy 4:8a), and 4) overcome every addiction we struggle with (1 Corinthians 6:12).
Eating and drinking in a healthy fashion includes: 1) Eating smaller portions of food. 2) Making healthy choices in regards to the food we eat, 3) Choosing healthy snacks, 4) Limiting sweets, 5) Drinking water instead of soft drinks, and 6) Abstaining from or reducing our intake of alcohol. And evaluating our body regularly involves getting health checkups from a doctor or clinic on a regular basis.
Almost all of us also have a need to engage in more exercise. Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 4:8, “Physical training is of some value . . .” And it’s necessary for those who want to become physically healthier in their lives. And then some people need to deal with their addictions if they are going to become physically healthier. Many people in our culture struggle with addictions to alcohol, drugs or nicotine. But many more of us struggle with an addiction to caffeine. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:12, “Everything is permissible for me – but not everything is beneficial . . . I will not be mastered by anything.” Are you mastered by anything in your life? Is there anything that you do physically or take physically that you think you can’t do without? There should be only one master in our lives, and His name is Jesus Christ. And if anyone or anything else is our master, we are headed for an unhealthy life.
The Apostle John wrote to his followers in 3 John 2, “I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit . . .” May 2026 be a year when we begin, stronger spiritually and physically so that we can bring greater glory to God.
Prayer Focus: Lord, since my body is “the temple of the Holy Spirit,” I need to become healthier physically than I’ve been in recent years. Show me what steps to take so that I can pursue that goal in 2026. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Follow-Up Activity: List some steps you can and probably should take to move towards a healthier physical lifestyle in 2026. And then ask the Lord to communicate to you what steps you need to take, and help you make plans to do so.
