Oct 23, 2023
Elite athletes are amazing. Whether they play a team sport or
compete in individual events, they train so incredibly hard to
become the best they can possibly be.
So when you watch your favourite team or athlete competing, either
live or on television, … how much do you think about the grinding
hard work, the long hours, the hidden sacrifices that they made to
get them to that place? Answer: Not all too often, right? Just like
the rest of us, you simply enjoy the spectacle of them
competing.
But without all that behind-the-scenes pain and sacrifice, they
wouldn’t be there. And as things turn out, it’s exactly the same
with walking the faith walk. Unless you put in the hard yards
behind the scenes, you’ll never end up on the playing field.
James 1:21,22 Therefore put away all
filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the
implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of
the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
(ESV)
In other words, whether people can see it or not, it all begins
with humbly receiving God’s Word into your heart – the Word that’s
able to save your soul. It all begins with a heart decision to
follow Jesus, even when the filth and rampant wickedness around you
wants to deride you for it.
And then? … then it’s about putting in the hard yards, the
sacrifice, the obedience, the humility, in the face of evil. An
athlete can read as many textbooks about their chosen sport as they
like, but that won’t get them into the arena. They have to get out
there and do it.
So stop kidding yourself. Be a doer of the Word, and not merely
a hearer.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.