Ready:
"But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth."
-2 Timothy 4:17
Set:
Where is God in sports? As a student-athlete, this is a question that I greatly struggle with. I know that in a lot of ways sports keep me in line. They keep me busy at school, make me more attentive to my work, and they force me to be in shape. But I also know that in my walk with God, sports, almost as much as any other obstacle, are what cause me to stumble the most. Whether it is becoming prideful in my sport or becoming angrily protective over my sister's, I know that God is not always happy with my actions.
As I thought about this, and as God spoke to me, I realized two very important things. First, and most imporant, is that it does not matter how many times I fail, Jesus Christ was crucified for all of my past, present and future sins. NOTHING can change that. Second, the other thing that was revealed to me was that my goal in life is to follow God. Because of that, I can't be satisfied in habitually failing (sinning), because I know that He is not satisfied in me.
I also know that God has ready for me every resource that I could possibly need. No matter what my weakness, God has the strength, knowledge and wisdom to help me overcome anything that I might face, whether in sports or in life and faith. And that, to me, is enough reason to play sports. That is WHY we should play sports: to glorify Christ by showing our confidence in the cross.
Go:
1. Why do you play or coach sports (or do whatever job God has placed you in)?
2. Are you willing to sit down and honestly own up to the weaknesses that God is showing you?
3. What do you need to change?
Workout:
2 Peter 1:3-11