T R E A S U R E

Matthew 7:6

What sort of things do you value most highly?  What are some treasures worthy of protection?

Jesus is recorded as saying these words in Matthew chapter 7 and verse 6, “Do not give to dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs.  If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.”

 You are in possession of some of life’s greatest commodities: vision, athletic ability, intelligence, friends and leadership skills.  Don’t throw these pearls in the mud with the pigs.  Don’t give these sacred gifts to dogs.  There are people with whom you’re acquainted who are not worthy of your devotion.  They’d only trample your gifts and then turn to destroy you.

 Choose your friends carefully.  Judiciously think about with whom you’ll spend your time.  Invest your time in people with whom you can be influential for good and with people who bring out the best in you.

 As you prepare to compete today, focus on the tremendous gifts you’ve been given by a loving God.  Thank Him for your opportunities and ask Him for the wisdom to value and protect your pearls.

Bible Reading Plan:
Luke 19:39-48
Titus 3:1-8
Proverbs 16:1-16
Esther 3-4

L I V I N G    S A C R I F I C E S

Romans 12:1-2

What sort of sacrifices have you made for your athletic career?  What have you given up to pursue a life of athletics?  Sacrifice is something most people never even consider, let alone complete.  In these next three letters we'll consider what it is to be a living sacrifice.

In Paul's letter to the Romans at chapter 12 and verses 1 and 2 it says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

At the time of this writing by Paul, sacrifices were usually killed and laid upon an altar to be burned up.  The problem with "living sacrifices" is that they tend to crawl off the altar when it gets a little hot.  We start with good intentions of making a sacrifice for our teammates, our family or career, but when it gets uncomfortable we often snatch the sacrifice from the altar and lose the reward that comes from faithfulness.

The good news is that God's grace enables us to offer our very bodies in daily service to Him.  He calls it holy, pleasing service that is a spiritual act of worship.  Let God's grace move you to sacrifice whatever it takes to pursue a life that's holy and pleasing to the Lord.  Further, make the sacrifices necessary to pursue the goals you and your team have established for this season.

Bible Reading Plan:
Luke 19:28-38
Titus 1:11-15
Proverbs 1518-33
Esther 2

D A I L Y   W I S D O M

Proverbs 8:34

When I was a young man and pursuing my girlfriend (now my wife of over 30 years), I knew exactly where she lived, when and where she went to class and every angle that made for an opportunity for me to know her.  Today’s scripture tells us to pursue wisdom just like that.

Proverbs chapter 8 and verse 34 says, “Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.”

Wisdom is personified by the author as a lovely woman, full of life giving truth.  It says the man who listens to her is blessed.  The key to receiving the blessing is to listen, watch and wait for her.

We can hear wisdom as we listen to our coaches and other mentors.  Further, we must listen daily; implying regularity and discipline.  We hear most effectively when we listen at wisdom’s doors… where she lives.

Wisdom lives in the minds of your coaching staff, your parents, your instructors and even in some teammates.  Listen closely and you’ll be blessed.  Wisdom resides in the Bible and God speaks loudly and clearly daily through its words.  Have a great competition today.

Bible Reading Plan:
Luke 19:11-27
Titus 2:1-10
Proverbs 15:1-17
Esther 1

E X P E C T A T I O N S

Hebrews 10:23

What were your preseason expectations?  Upon what were they based?  Were they based on returning veteran players, on new players just joining the team, on a new game plan or some other intangible factor?  Upon what do your expectations of God rest?  Let’s think together about how these fit in the life of a competitor.

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews writes at chapter 10 and verse 23, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

It’s normal and often helpful to have great expectations of your team through the preseason and into the first competitions of the year.  We all start with great hopes for a successful season and dream of championships.  We’d be less than true competitors if we did anything less.  We are wise if we base these expectations on the people around us rather than on all the circumstances beyond our control.  We can hold fast to our hope, as a team, by trusting each other and working together.

Another comforting thought from this scripture is that our hope for real life, now and throughout the future, is based on the nature of God.  The writer says that “He who promised is faithful.”  The very faithful nature of God is the guarantee of the promises made by our Father to us in the Bible.  That’s worth holding onto with both hands!

As you compete today, hold fast to your expectations of your team and of yourself.  Cling tightly to your hope for the team’s success.  Trust the Lord Jesus to be faithful and to keep his promises to you.  Make this a day in which you exceed even your greatest expectations.

Bible Reading Plan:
Luke 19:1-10
Titus 1:10-16
Proverbs 14:19-35

B O A S T I N G

Psalm 20:7

Have you ever been a part of a great team?  Have you noticed how people around the team tend to boast and brag about how good they are?  They take great pride in the team and talk about championships.  In whom do you boast?  In whom do you take pride?  

 In Psalm 20 and verse 7 the writer says, "Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God."  This makes me question the things in which I make my boast.  In what do you boast?  What do you talk about most?  Whom do you speak of most often? 

Some players boast in their physical strength or their jumping ability or their quickness.  Some teams boast in their coaches, or their records, or their winning traditions. Others, however boast in their relationship with the Lord Jesus.  These people  know that their relationship with God is the only thing that is truly permanent and eternally durable.  They know that strength will wane and teams will dissolve, but the Lord is unchanging and He is always available to them.

Today when you pray, look to the Lord for real strength.  Ask Him to give you opportunities to boast in His name.  Examine your heart and see where your boasting resides.  Is it in horses or chariots?  In strength or quickness?  In hops or jump shots?  Or is it in the name of the Lord? 

Make your boast in the Lord, today and every day of your life.

Bible Reading Plan:
Luke 18:31-43
Titus 1:1-9
Nehemiah 12

E V A L U A T I O N

Jeremiah 12:5

When was the last time you did some honest evaluation of your abilities?  When have you sized up your competition to see how well you've done? 

In Jeremiah's book of prophesy he writes about this idea, If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? 

Many times athletes who are doing very well get overly confident of their abilities.  They are often simply competing against inferior opponents and receive a rude awakening when they face some better competition. 

Jeremiah asks a hard question.  He says that if these third string athletes are wearing us out, how well do we expect to compete with the first team players?  What are we to do?  Have an honest estimate of your abilities and work to improve.  Don't boast about your successes, you may have been playing against inferior competition and you could be embarrassed by superior athletes later.

As you pray before today's competition, ask the Lord to help you compete well.  You may be playing against athletes the level of men on foot or you may be up against athletes that seem to run like horses.  Either way seek to honor the Lord with your life.

Bible Reading Plan:
Luke 18:18-30
Proverbs 13:13-25
Nehemiah 11

P U R I T Y

Matthew 5:8

With whom have you competed that had extraordinary vision for your sport?  Who seemed to be able to see things on the field of competition that no one else could see?  What would it be like to see things as God sees them?  How can we begin to do so?

In Matthew’s gospel at chapter 5 and verse 8 we read, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”  This is another of the verses from the Beatitudes. 

To be blessed is to be contented and happy with one’s lot in life.  Jesus says we’re blessed when we’re pure in heart, that is pure in our motives and purposes.  We all need to check out our motives and our purposes for the things we do.  Am I being selfish or selfless?  Am I seeking the best for others?  Is my personal agenda being placed above that of the team?  How pure am I in heart?

The exciting promise is this.  When we are pure in heart we have an uncommon insight into God’s view of the situation at hand.  We can understand what would please Him and have the ability to choose wisely.

As you prepare for competition today, ask the Lord to cleanse and purify your heart.  Ask Him for pure-hearted vision to see what He sees and to thereby be the ideal teammate and competitor.

Bible Reading Plan:
II Timothy 3:10-17
Proverbs 13:1-12
Nehemiah 10