T H E   I D E A L   T E A M M A T E

I John 3:16

Who is your model for the ideal teammate?  What does he/she do that makes him/her such a great teammate?  For me, that person is Jesus Christ.  Let’s consider him as a model today.

In John’s first letter at chapter 3 and verse 16, we read, “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.  And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

That’s what a great teammate looks like, one who lays his life down for the others!  Certainly we can see that vividly in the life of Jesus.  He died a real death in our places. 

How can we, in less drastic and bloody ways, lay down our lives for our teammates?  Think about it.  We do this when we give up playing time to help develop younger players.  We do it when we sacrifice personal records or accomplishments for the good of the team.  We do it when we change positions to fill a weakness that has appeared due to an injury or illness.  A great teammate is one who lays down his life for his friends.

As you compete today, lay down your life for your team.  Give your 100% best effort throughout the competition.  Sacrifice your personal goals for those of the team and you’ll be a teammate like the Lord Jesus.

Bible Reading Plan:
John 4:43-54
I Peter 1:10-16
Jeremiah 35-38

G L O R Y

Romans 8:18

Some people say that difficult times develop character.  However, I believe that hard times reveal the character that's already in a person or in a team.

In Romans chapter 8 and verse 18, the Apostle Paul writes to his friends, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."  In times of suffering we have a strong assurance that better things are on the way. 

Paul seems to say that the overwhelming greatness of the good to come far surpasses our present, momentary suffering.  Take that kind of attitude when you're competing and your legs ache.  Think that way when you've been in the training room all week recovering from the last game.  When anything assaults your attitude and tempts you to quit or to simply give up, focus your mind on the glory that awaits the completion of the task and the attaining of the goal. 

When you pray, ask for the power to press through the suffering and into the glorious reward of achievement.

Bible Reading Plan:
John 4:27-42
Ecclesiastes 10
Jeremiah32-34

D I R E C T I O N

Proverbs 16:9

Have you ever wondered why your path through life has zigzagged sometimes?  Does it seem that your path to a championship has been sidetracked?  How did I wind up here?  Lots of athletes ask those kinds of questions in their pursuit of excellence.

In Proverbs chapter 16 and verse 9 we read, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”

Every athlete I know sometimes lies on his bed and dreams about what he’d like to achieve, the awards that he’d like to win, the career that he’d like to pursue.  In his mind he plans his way.

But somewhere along the way to those dreams becoming reality, he gets sidetracked and before long he’s not sure how he got here.  Here’s the comforting word in this verse.  It’s the Lord’s way to direct our steps along the way to fulfilling His purposes in our lives.  The Lord can see very clearly the best path for us and everything we need in preparation for our ultimate place of serving Him.

It’s good to make our plans, but it the Lord’s place to direct our steps along the way.

You’ve made your plans… a championship.  Now pursue it with all you have and don’t be frustrated if that wanders through a long stretch of practices, injuries and disappointments.  Compete greatly today!

Bible Reading Plan:
James 5:13-20
Ecclesiastes 9
Jeremiah 30-31

I N J U R Y

I Peter 4:1

Who has more confidence about recovery from injury, the one who’s never been hurt or the player who has come through the pain and has found renewed strength?  If the answer seems obvious, you may have never been injured.  Suffering is tough, even after recovery.

Peter makes mention of suffering and its results in his first letter at chapter 4 and verse 1, “Therefore since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin…”  He’s not saying that after we’ve suffered that we’re somehow exempt from making moral mistakes, rather suffering changes our mindset and leads us to live for more than physical gratification.

Before we’ve suffered any significant injury, many of us play a little tentatively in dangerous situations.  There is a latent fear that if we risk a possible injury, we can never recover or play the same again.

However, in the player who has suffered and recovered, that indecision and fear is overcome by the assurance that even if this daring play leads to pain, he can come through it to compete even more strongly.

As you compete today, play with strength, courage and daring.  Don’t be intimidated by the potential injury that you may imagine could wreck your playing career.  Those of you who have come through injury, who have suffered in the flesh, loan some courage to your teammates and play with great passion.

Bible Reading Plan:
John 4:1-14
James 5:7-12
Ecclesiastes 8

G R E A T   C O A C H I N G

John 21:17

What is the hallmark of a truly great coach?  What characterizes the best of team leaders?  They deeply love their teammates and pay the price to seek their best.

In John chapter 21 and verse 17 we can read what Jesus says to His teammates related to leadership.  It says, “He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’  Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’  And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’  Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep.’” Jesus simply tells Peter that to love Him is to nourish and care for those that He cares for.  It’s that simple.

It’s similar for us on this team.  Do you love your coaches and teammates?  Then the thing to do is to nurture the people on your team.  To develop the younger players is the most appropriate thing the veteran players can do.  To lead them well is to seek their best, even at personal cost. 

On a deeper level, do you love Jesus?  If so, do the same.  Seek the best things in life for your teammates and coaches.  Appropriate the Lord’s love for you in loving others.  Compete like this and we’ll all sense the Lord’s love in you.

Bible Reading Plan:
John 3:22-36
James 5:1-6
Ecclesiastes 7:15-29
Jeremiah 23-25

T E A M W O R K

Romans 14:19

Sometimes keeping the peace and building teamwork is easy, sometimes though it requires great effort.  Today's scripture speaks of this dynamic in the life of a team.

Paul's letter to his friends in Rome reads like this at chapter 14 and verse 19, "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification."  Paul calls his friends to make every effort to improve their teamwork.

There are lots of things that fight against a team's peace and work to destroy their teamwork.  In these times we must make every effort to promote peace (harmony in relationships) and mutual edification (building each other up).

In today's competition, make every effort to promote peace on the team.  Let's also give our best to each other in building up our teammates in a day of greatness.

Bible Reading Plan:
John 3:16-21
James 4:11-17
Ecclesiastes 7:1-14
Jeremiah 19-22

P L A N N I N G

Proverbs 16:3

What are the keys to seeing your goals achieved?  How would one go about the pursuit of athletic achievement?  I have some ideas.

In Proverbs chapter 16 at verse 3 it says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

How does one commit to the Lord everything that he does?  Simply put, that would be to approach all of life’s activities and pursuits with prayer and attention to doing things God’s way.  Commit all of your life to pursuing God’s will and His ways in class, in practice, in competition, in family life, in coaching, in all of life.  Commit it all to Him.

The promise is that when we do this, He works in us to see that our plans succeed.  That assumes that you have a plan.  Make a plan that will honor God, and then commit everything about yourself to Him.  The Lord is faithful and His promise is that He’ll work to see our plans succeed.

Pray and prepare for a great performance today… you can do it!!!

Bible Reading Plan:
John 3:1-15
James 4:1-10
Jeremiah 16-18