Social Fitness – Matthew 8:1-10

BY REV. DORAL PULLEY

Jesus Christ was very sociable.  He attended events and visited the home of friends, disciples and even strangers.  Although Jesus Christ was sociable, people recognized His authority as a teacher and power as a miracle worker.  Spirituality does not mean isolation. We, too, can be friendly and sociable without compromising our spirituality.

A centurion, a captain of 100 soldiers, had a servant who was having a health challenge.  He approached Jesus Christ to heal the servant.  Jesus Christ offered to come to the centurion’s home and heal the servant.  The centurion explained that the house visit was unnecessary because the only thing that was needed was the Word.

The centurion knew the power of his own words.  Therefore, he knew that Jesus Christ’s words had just as much, if not more, power.  He knew that if Jesus Christ spoke the word of health that his servant would be healed.  Jesus expanded in Christ consciousness as a result of this social interaction with the centurion.  Jesus Christ experienced a more effective and efficient way of healing, speaking the word.

Through social interaction, we also can expand in Christ consciousness.  Social fitness is beholding the Christ in every person and seeing each situation as an opportunity for growth.  Through being socially fit, we are transformed and we learn new and better ways of doing things.

Rev. Doral Pulley is the senior pastor of Unity Temple of Truth Church, 511 Prescott St. S, St. Petersburg.