Have you ever heard someone (maybe even yourself) talk about generally being a good person…not committing any of the "big" sins. The person makes it sound like their sins are misdemeanors and that the "big" sins are felonies that God cannot redeem. This just sounds plain silly to me (although I've been guilty of this thinking before myself). Have you ever seen a pitcher pitch a perfect game that just gave up a walk or an error instead of a game-losing home run? Anything less than perfection is not a perfect game and anything less than a life without sin is less than perfection.
Fortunately for us, God is able to forgive all sins…little ones, big ones, even seemingly unforgivable ones (John 3:16-18). The only sin that God will not cover is a person who never admits his sin and never accepts Christ as Lord to receive His gifts of salvation and eternal life. When people were ready to stone an adulteress, Christ said that he who has no sin should cast the first stone…and suddenly everyone accusing the woman was gone…Christ then told her to go and sin no more (John 8:3-11). Let's learn from this example in two ways: 1) being thankful for Christ's sacrifice, love, and mercy and 2) let us offer that mercy to others that has so freely been given to us.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Mental Toughness
Did you hear about Tiger Woods winning the US Open this weekend while fighting through knee pain? If so, you may have seen the new ad featuring Tiger's father talking about him. In the ad he says, "Tiger, I promise you that you'll never meet another person as mentally tough as you in your entire life. And he hasn't; and he never will." Maybe in his admiration for his son Earl Woods forgot about Jesus, who exhibited greatest mental toughness of all time, or made an obvious exception in his head.
I am sure hitting a golf ball through distractions, the pressure to win the US Open, and knee pain is quite challenging. However, I doubt that Tiger will ever have to play golf after having a spear stuck in his side or being nailed to a cross. Don't get me wrong, I respect the heck out of what Tiger did this past weekend (even more so now knowing that he will need season ending knee surgery)…but it wasn't nearly the punishment that Christ went through for us and it didn't save my soul. So, not only is God better than Shaft…he's also better than Tiger.
We should be overfilled with joy that Christ our Lord has the greatest mental toughness of all time. How wonderful is it for us to be able to rely on the great I Am who does not change in spite of difficult circumstances (Numbers 23:19)? When we trust in God and His resolve, He is able to accomplish great things for His kingdom regardless of how the situation looks at the time. The accounts of David slaying Goliath (1 Samuel 17), the account of the fiery furnace (Shadrach, Meschach, and Abendnego in Daniel 3), Paul on his missionary journeys, and the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:54-60) all show us how we can reflect God's mental toughness when we remain in Him.
I am sure hitting a golf ball through distractions, the pressure to win the US Open, and knee pain is quite challenging. However, I doubt that Tiger will ever have to play golf after having a spear stuck in his side or being nailed to a cross. Don't get me wrong, I respect the heck out of what Tiger did this past weekend (even more so now knowing that he will need season ending knee surgery)…but it wasn't nearly the punishment that Christ went through for us and it didn't save my soul. So, not only is God better than Shaft…he's also better than Tiger.
We should be overfilled with joy that Christ our Lord has the greatest mental toughness of all time. How wonderful is it for us to be able to rely on the great I Am who does not change in spite of difficult circumstances (Numbers 23:19)? When we trust in God and His resolve, He is able to accomplish great things for His kingdom regardless of how the situation looks at the time. The accounts of David slaying Goliath (1 Samuel 17), the account of the fiery furnace (Shadrach, Meschach, and Abendnego in Daniel 3), Paul on his missionary journeys, and the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:54-60) all show us how we can reflect God's mental toughness when we remain in Him.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Casey at Bat (alternate version)
Casey is up to bat in the bottom of the ninth with 2 outs and the bases loaded. His team is down by one run. Casey swings wildly at the first pitch, which is in the dirt. The second pitch arrives with the same result. Surely, mighty Casey won't strike out on 3 pitches the fans said…but alas Casey swung at the third pitch which bounced 5 feet in front of the plate.
How often do we want to come up with the big hit so desperately that we swing at the first thing that comes along? We think, "I've been put in this position to come up with the big hit"…right? Do you know what happens when we are focused and patient? The count of balls and strikes will turn in our favor. The pitcher is then faced with a choice. Either the pitcher walks in a run or gives us a better pitch to hit. Abraham tried to use a maidservant as a shortcut to God's promise of being made into a great nation (Genesis 17:17-22). Solomon could have trusted that God would provide His people with peace. Instead He married and Egyptian princess to barter a deal for peace (1 Kings 3:1) that ultimately would not last (1 Kings 11:11-13). It doesn't pay to be impatient.
What about us? Are we willing to trust God and follow His direction? Are we willing to take unconventional timetables or steps that may not follow our logic? It has been said that if we get ahead of God that He may not follow. Instead He tells us to remain in Him (John 15:4) and to take His yoke because it is easy (Matthew 11:30). Let's focus on following almighty God who always knows when it is time to swing and when it is time to take a pitch.
How often do we want to come up with the big hit so desperately that we swing at the first thing that comes along? We think, "I've been put in this position to come up with the big hit"…right? Do you know what happens when we are focused and patient? The count of balls and strikes will turn in our favor. The pitcher is then faced with a choice. Either the pitcher walks in a run or gives us a better pitch to hit. Abraham tried to use a maidservant as a shortcut to God's promise of being made into a great nation (Genesis 17:17-22). Solomon could have trusted that God would provide His people with peace. Instead He married and Egyptian princess to barter a deal for peace (1 Kings 3:1) that ultimately would not last (1 Kings 11:11-13). It doesn't pay to be impatient.
What about us? Are we willing to trust God and follow His direction? Are we willing to take unconventional timetables or steps that may not follow our logic? It has been said that if we get ahead of God that He may not follow. Instead He tells us to remain in Him (John 15:4) and to take His yoke because it is easy (Matthew 11:30). Let's focus on following almighty God who always knows when it is time to swing and when it is time to take a pitch.
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