“…Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind…Love your neighbor as yourself…”
-Matthew 22:37,39
Late in 2002, Francisco Rodriguez burst onto the Major League scene as a 20-year-old fireball pitcher, and he promptly helped the Los Angeles Angels win the World Series. On September 13, 2008, he nailed-down the final three outs of the team’s win over the Seattle Mariners to earn his 58th save of the season, thus, breaking the Major League record. After the game, Rodriguez said that during the experience, he could feel the presence of his grandfather, who had passed away 10 years earlier. “I felt like he was right next to me,” Rodriguez said. “He's with me every day. I would give up anything to have him right next to me and enjoy this moment.”
Here is a guy whom many consider to be the best in the world at what he does. And, in the midst of this great personal achievement, he says he would give anything to be able to have his grandfather share the moment with him.
Jesus said that the two greatest commandments consisted of loving God and loving people, and that everything else depended on these (Matthew 22:34-40). At the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus gave His disciples the “Great Commission” of taking His message to the people of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8). Relationships were the central focus of how Jesus lived and what He taught while He was on earth.
No matter what great things we accomplish in this world, we must remember that 1) these things will only last for a “moment,” and 2) in everything we do LIFE IS ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS. It’s about our relationship with Jesus Christ and our relationships with people. These are the only things in this world that will last forever.
1. What is the one thing you would most like to accomplish in sports? Why?
2. Whom would you want to share that moment with you? Why?
3. If someone could look into your heart and see the central focus of your life, what would that person see?
1 John 4:7-21