Casey Seymour, successful soccer player and coach, notes that everyone on his team hates the 10-by-100 drill that ends practice. Before the men can leave the field, they must run 100 yards 10 times at full speed with minimal rest. If they don’t beat a prescribed time, they have to do it again.
The players hate it-until the day of the game. Then they find that they can play at full capacity for the entire match. Their effort has been rewarded with a championship!
The apostle Paul used metaphors of training and competition in his letters. While he was a missionary to the Gentiles, he submitted to the instructions and drills of God amid great suffering and hardship. Twice in Philippians 4, he said, “I have learned” (vv.11-12). For him, and for each of us, following Jesus is a lifelong learning process. We are not spiritually mature the day we are saved, any more than a schoolboy athlete is ready for professional soccer. We grow in faith as we allow God through His Word and the Holy Spirit to empower us to serve Him.
Through hardship, Paul learned to serve God well- and so can we. It’s not pleasant, but it is rewarding! The more teachable we are, the more mature we will become. As members of Christ’s team, let’s be coachable – Dave Egner
Oh, its hard to learn the lesson;
As we pass beneath the rod,
That the sunshine and the shadow
Serve alike the will of God – Anon.
God’s work in us isn’t over when we receive Christ- it has just begun.
Devotion from Our Daily Bread- October 8, 2007
3 comments:
I have learned from many small groups, fellowship, and team sports- that we build off one another to reach a certain goal. Sport teams- a championship or a desired goal in the team’s interest- my softball team TCAC Rock, this year making the playoffs for the first time, was truly a great experience. We made the playoffs as the number 24th seed, and God surprised us even more with a first round win over the 13th seed.
As a team, we have grown exponentially (remembering 3 years ago, we were like 2-8, previous year 4-6, this year 5-5) and as a player on the team, 3 years ago, I did not even know how to play softball. It is kind of funny to see how much of a better player I am after all these years. I find it even more pleasant when I start giving pointers to all the new players and taking on a leadership role on the team.
It goes the same for playing on God’s team, we were all once beginners to Christianity and knowing Christ. We grow mature in His Word and learn every time we listen to a brother or sister in Christ or even when we open the bible to read. Our understanding of God should not be limited to the words of the Bible but our own personal relationship with God.
Let God coach me to become a better man of God and help me prepare to serve You, Lord.
-Kim
Very true, I think it's amazing how we grow and learn from each other and from God and from His word. I hope we can all keep it in mind that we're all not perfect and are all learning as we go.
On another note, it's really awesome to see you steppin up bigtime, esp this year Kim. Praise God and I hope He continues to refine you into the man you were created to be.
- Jono
I know definitely for myself that I have come a ways since i became a Christian gr 11. (2002 Summer) I still remember vividly the day i decided to step out in faith to grab the Hand that has always been there,but i chose to ignore it. There has been a lot of ups and downs, times where I would know i am following sinful nature, but chose to ignore the Holy Spirit and go further down that path. There are times where i am on FIAH! (fire) for God and just pumped and loving life as it is. Its through these highs and lows, mountains and valleys taht I have become who I am today. I am in no ways a finished product, I KNOW i am a work in progress. But sometimes its amazing looking back, and just seeing where God has taken you.
- Jacky
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