Ready:
"Then Paul replied, '. . .For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.'"
-Acts 21:13
Set:
"I'd die for this. This is what we live for," said Pat Hurst. Any idea what she was talking about? Golf. Hurst made the comment after she and Annika Sorenstam were deadlocked after 72-holes at the 2006 U.S. Women's Open, forcing an 18-hole playoff the following day. Sorenstam won the playoff, and her 3rd Open title, by four strokes over Hurst.
Have you ever heard the saying, "Until you find something worth dying for, you're not really living"? Paul certainly understood that. Throughout the New Testament we see examples of the fact that his life was not only lived for Jesus Christ, but he ultimately died for Him, as well.
Now, don't get me wrong, I enjoy golf and competing in just about anything I do, but living and dying for it--I don't think so! Sports is a means to an end. . . it's not the end. The end is glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ.
This week I encourage you to seriously think about what you are living for and then ask God and someone else close to you what they think you are living for based on what they see.
Go:
1. What would you do if it suddenly became illegal to compete in sports?
2. Would your response be the same or different if following Christ was illegal? Why?
3. How can you "die" for Jesus Christ today?
Workout:
Matthew 16:25
Acts 21:10-22:22
Galatians 2:20-21
Philippians 1:21
Philippians 3:1-14
