Rambling this Tuesday about the Winter Olympic Games…
- Definitely weird having Winter Olympics this year after the delayed Summer Olympics last year.
- The Olympics capture my attention unlike most sporting events.
- The Super Bowl this weekend will represent similar dynamics.
- So much pressure. So little room for error. A medal-caliber skier out – OUT – after the second gate?!?!?
- Last night (Monday) we watch a medal favorite figure skater likely out of gold medal contention after a botched jump early in his routine.
- So much pressure. So little room for error.
- About the pressure – it correlates to the preparation, the time training and practicing.
- These are athletes of great sacrifice. They excel in sports most of us only care about every four years – when everything is on the line.
- The glory can be intense for sure. We remember epic performances and upsets.
- But oh the failure. The agony of defeat as they say.
- Spiritually, when do we put ourselves on the line? When do we sacrifice? For some sort of glory?
- The Bible actually uses the analogy of the games. Those who compete, do so for a prize. God’s glory looms larger, greater than any earthly glory – so we should pursue it.
- With even greater sacrifice?
- Following Jesus takes discipline.
- Denial. So many athletes deny themselves what they want in order to excel.
- Christ-followers heed Jesus’ command of self denial. Or we should.
- So a question: What thing did you last deny yourself in service of Jesus’ kingdom?
- As you go about your Tuesday, take a few rambling thoughts and think about your view of God’s kingdom. Do training, competing, engaging, sacrificing, make your priority list?
- If we love Jesus, let us obey his commands!