C O M M I T M E N T

I Kings 19:19 & 21

Who is the greatest example of total commitment in your sport?  Who has really committed him/herself 100% to your team and to excellence in competition?  How would you rate your level of commitment?  In today’s scripture we see a striking picture of radical commitment.

I the first book of Kings at chapter 19 and in verses 19 and 21 we read, “So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shapat.  He was plowing with 12 yoke of oxen and he himself was driving the twelfth pair.  Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him….  So Elisha left him and went back.  He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them.  He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate.  Then he set out to follow Elijah and to be his attendant.”

Elisha was a wealthy farmer plowing his ground until Elijah the prophet came to town.  By throwing his cloak around him, Elijah was inviting Elisha to join him in his work.  This sounds a lot like a recruiting visit.  At that point things changed radically for Elisha.  He committed everything to the pursuit God’s will. 

Elisha slaughtered his oxen and cooked them over a fire made from the plow.  That’s like a modern farmer blowing up his tractors.  The end result is the same; neither is going back to farming.  That is what total commitment looks like.  Elisha eliminated everything that would hinder his whole-hearted commitment to Elijah and to God.

My challenge to you today is to similarly commit to an absolute, whole-hearted, 100% effort in this competition.  Cast caution to the wind and hold nothing in reserve.  Be as desperate and radical as Elisha in your commitment to your team.

Bible Reading Plan:
John 16:1-11
Revelation 4
Job 30
Joel 2-3

H U M I L I T Y

Psalm 131:1

How do you react when teammates or fans criticize your coaches’ decisions?  Sometimes you might nod in agreement or even voice your displeasure.  At other times you might simply remain silent or vigorously defend the staff’s strategy.  What attitudes might be revealed by those various reactions?

In Psalm number 131 and verse 1 we read David’s view on important attitudes.  There we read, “My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.”  Here’s one of history’s great leaders and he said that he had to guard his attitude from arrogant pride.

We’ve all seen haughty eyes that look down on everyone else.  The arrogant heart has an opinion on everything and is fully convinced of his superiority.

Let’s guard our attitudes and put on humility like David.  Let’s not be so proud or foolish to suppose that our few years of competition make us wiser than our coaches whose decades of experience far surpass our own.  Let’s not concern ourselves with the great matters of the sport, nor with things beyond our ability to understand.

In today’s competition, be the competitor you were made to be.  Do so with great humility and relax under the leadership of your wise, talented coaching staff.

Bible Reading Plan:
John 15:8-27
Revelation 3:14-22
Job 29

T E A M   L E A D E R S

John 10:11

What does it cost to be a good coach or a teammate?  How much more does it cost to be a head coach or a team captain?  You may not be aware of it, but those positions cost a good deal more.  Jesus clues us in on the cost in today’s letter.

Jesus says at John 10 and verse 11, “I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”

He who would be a team leader or a coach should count the costs associated with such responsibilities.  It’s just like flying on airplanes, the best seats cost the most.  The cost of such leadership is sacrifice.  It requires laying down one’s life for the people he’s leading.  That comes in terms of time, convenience, preferences, and personal desires, all set aside in order to serve the team.
 

Jesus knows that love and leadership lead to sacrifice.  His love led Him to die in our place.  That’s real sacrifice!  That is what a good shepherd does.

Will you be a good shepherd for your team?  What will it cost you?  How will you lay down your life for your team today?  How many times will you prefer your team’s best over your own?  This is the price tag for leadership.  Pay it in full in today’s competition and you’ll be like Jesus.  Play like champions today.

Bible Reading Plan:
John 15:9-17
Revelation 3:1-13
Hosea 13-14

W I S D O M

James 3:13

Who among your teammates is the best student of the game?  Whose knowledge of strategy and fundamentals can help shape the outcome of a contest?  How is that wisdom evident to the rest of the team?  Today’s scripture tells us how to recognize real wisdom.

In the letter from James at chapter 3 and verse 13 we read, “Who is wise among you?  Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.”  Just like real players show their stuff during competition, real people of wisdom show their true colors by their conduct.The world is crowded with people who can “talk a good game.”  Those who can really play are much rarer.

The same is true when we look for people with real wisdom.  Myriads of folks talk about their intelligence, their academic degrees and their grasp of athletic dynamics, but to find someone whose conduct speaks more loudly than his mouth is a rare thing.

In today’s competition, let’s be players of real wisdom who show their true colors by playing wisely, by serving our teammates and following the instructions of our coaches.  That’s what the author means by good conduct…done in the meekness of wisdom.  Make this a great day of competition. 

Bible Reading Plan:
John 15:1-8
Job 27
Hosea 9-12

T H E   D O O R

John 10:2

Do you have to sneak into the practice facility to practice?  What kind of people would have to sneak in and would always worry about being found and kicked out?  Do you come in through the door, or do you have to crawl in through a window?  What allows you such easy entrance?  Jesus knows…

In John chapter 10 and verse 2 He speaks about access through relationship.  There we read, “But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.”  He had just described those who don’t come in through the door as thieves and robbers.

You don’t need to sneak in, you’re on the team.  The security people know your face.  Outsiders have to buy a ticket on game day, but you just stride right on in.  If they’re caught without a ticket, they’re thrown out.  Your relationship with the team is what gives you entrance.  After a while, even those close to you become known and are at home with your team.  Those with real relationships to the team can come right on in… the “wannabes” have to sneak in some other way.

It’s the same in life; those with real relationship to Jesus can come right on in and speak with Him through prayer and study.  The spiritual “wannabes” seem out of place and even foreign to His presence.

In this day of competition, watch for those you recognize on the bench and in the crowd of spectators.  They are the ones with relationships that are worthy of your love and respect.  Give them the access to your heart and your passion for the game that they’ve earned.  Give this game and your team all you have.

Bible Reading Plan:
Revelation 2:1-17
Job 25-26
Hosea 7-8

R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y

James 3:1

Who is judged more strictly by the press for your team’s standing in the conference, the head coach or the freshman walk-on?  Who gets fired if the team doesn’t meet the expectations of the administration, the coaching staff or the starting line up?  Those answers are obvious, but why are they true?  Today’s scripture speaks about such matters.

In James’ letter at chapter 3 and verse 1, we read, “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”

Coaching, like teaching comes with a very large price tag – responsibility.  No matter whose fault it is when a team underachieves, it’s those who coach who are ultimately responsible.  Certainly the leaders among the players can share some of that load, but the bottom line of responsibility rests squarely on the shoulders of the coaching staff.

Therefore we must commit even more highly to our coaches because of the incredible weight of responsibility that they carry daily.  We must also carefully weigh the costs of becoming a coach or a teacher or even a team leader. 

Make today’s competition be one that will fulfill rather than frustrate your coaching staff as you give your absolute best effort.

Bible Reading Plan:
John 14:15-21
Revelation 1:9-20
Job 24
Hosea 4-6

C O M P E T I T I O N

John 8:31-32

What are the keys to playing the game naturally, freely and in a relaxed way?  How do we prepare for game day in such a way as to allow us to play with great freedom?  Jesus knows about such things.

In John’s Gospel at chapter 8 and the 31st and 32nd verses we read, “Then Jesus said to those who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth and the truth will make you free.’” 

The key to freedom in competition is to abide in the elemental disciplines of the game.  That’s why coaches insist on drills and repetition.  Those things build in the fundamentals that are the building blocks of successful game days.  Abide in, live daily in things like practice, video study, team meetings, training… Live in the game.

In life on a broader scale, Jesus is saying that the key to freedom is to abide in, to live in His word.  Disciplines like daily devotional reading of the Bible, daily prayer and meditation are the keys to a life of freedom.  It’s the abiding that precedes the knowledge of the truth, then the truth sets us free.

Let’s watch in today’s game for the hours, days, weeks, months and years of living in the game to result in a strong knowledge of the game.  I’m very confident that with that kind of knowledge, a great performance is awaiting you today.

Bible Reading Plan:
John 14:1-14
Revelation 1:1-8
Job 23
Hosea 1-3