Note: As I was cleaning out some files, I found this from July 2010. It's as applicable today as it was then:
Jonathan and Christopher enjoy the High School Musical movies. But probably their favorite song goes something like, “Hey, batter, batter, hey, batter, batter, swing!” They also like the song from the first movie where Troy is trying to talk himself out of being distracted from playing basketball. He sings, “Gotta get your head in the game.” The boys have played those songs to the point where I can almost sing them - and I haven’t even been listening to them as much as the boys have!! There’s something very addictive to ball games and competition and succeeding.
So none of you will be surprised that Jonathan and Christopher really enjoyed playing ball this summer. Even though we all got very tired of driving to Union almost every evening, we all enjoyed the boys’ participation. I think Christopher’s final at bat where he drove in the winning run to end the last game was a highlight he (and Daddy, Grandpa, and Ken) won’t soon forget. Likewise, Jonathan’s ability to consistently make contact (gotta watch those enticing high ones!) made him a very valuable addition to his team. But to tell you the truth, as much fun as it was to watch the boys, it’s a lot more fun to play baseball than it is to watch it!!
There are a lot of things like that in life. It’s more fun to eat ice cream than to watch someone else eat it. It’s a lot more fun to pet a soft friendly dog than to watch someone else pet it. Its a lot more fun to read a good book than to watch someone else read.
And it’s a lot better to have a relationship with the Great God of the Universe than to watch someone else have a relationship! I love Matthew 7:7-11. It tells me that God is a good and loving Father. The word Father lets me know that He is not a god off somewhere who doesn’t care about His children. God is the God who Created us. He is the One who sent His Son to die for us. Look at Romans 8:32. He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (ESV)
So, let me ask you: Do you have your head in the game? Are you engaged and playing to full potential? Or are you distracted from giving your very best to the One to whom you owe everything?!
This life is filled with distractions from the goal. But even that’s fraught with problems. We have difficulty discerning what are distractions and what is part of the path to the goal. So the task before us is to seek God with all our hearts and to rely on His guidance to determine what are distractions and what is truly His will for our lives. If you’re like me, sometimes that’s A LOT easier said than done. What things are really worthwhile endeavors? What are just plain time-wasters? What things look like they don’t matter very much, but in the long-run are crucial pivot-points?
Romans 12:2 encourages me: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV) This verse tells me that when I don’t know which way is up, I have to go back to God, get out of the world, and let God transform me so I will know which way to go. It is not hopeless. It’s just hard work. It is not easy to die to self, to choose God, to bring every thought captive to Jesus Christ. My carnal nature wants its own way - not God’s way. It is a constant struggle. But the struggle is worth it.
So engage. Step up to the plate. Start swinging. Get your head in the game. Eliminate distractions that you know are distractions. Christianity is definitely NOT a spectator sport!
Jonathan and Christopher enjoy the High School Musical movies. But probably their favorite song goes something like, “Hey, batter, batter, hey, batter, batter, swing!” They also like the song from the first movie where Troy is trying to talk himself out of being distracted from playing basketball. He sings, “Gotta get your head in the game.” The boys have played those songs to the point where I can almost sing them - and I haven’t even been listening to them as much as the boys have!! There’s something very addictive to ball games and competition and succeeding.
So none of you will be surprised that Jonathan and Christopher really enjoyed playing ball this summer. Even though we all got very tired of driving to Union almost every evening, we all enjoyed the boys’ participation. I think Christopher’s final at bat where he drove in the winning run to end the last game was a highlight he (and Daddy, Grandpa, and Ken) won’t soon forget. Likewise, Jonathan’s ability to consistently make contact (gotta watch those enticing high ones!) made him a very valuable addition to his team. But to tell you the truth, as much fun as it was to watch the boys, it’s a lot more fun to play baseball than it is to watch it!!
There are a lot of things like that in life. It’s more fun to eat ice cream than to watch someone else eat it. It’s a lot more fun to pet a soft friendly dog than to watch someone else pet it. Its a lot more fun to read a good book than to watch someone else read.
And it’s a lot better to have a relationship with the Great God of the Universe than to watch someone else have a relationship! I love Matthew 7:7-11. It tells me that God is a good and loving Father. The word Father lets me know that He is not a god off somewhere who doesn’t care about His children. God is the God who Created us. He is the One who sent His Son to die for us. Look at Romans 8:32. He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (ESV)
So, let me ask you: Do you have your head in the game? Are you engaged and playing to full potential? Or are you distracted from giving your very best to the One to whom you owe everything?!
This life is filled with distractions from the goal. But even that’s fraught with problems. We have difficulty discerning what are distractions and what is part of the path to the goal. So the task before us is to seek God with all our hearts and to rely on His guidance to determine what are distractions and what is truly His will for our lives. If you’re like me, sometimes that’s A LOT easier said than done. What things are really worthwhile endeavors? What are just plain time-wasters? What things look like they don’t matter very much, but in the long-run are crucial pivot-points?
Romans 12:2 encourages me: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV) This verse tells me that when I don’t know which way is up, I have to go back to God, get out of the world, and let God transform me so I will know which way to go. It is not hopeless. It’s just hard work. It is not easy to die to self, to choose God, to bring every thought captive to Jesus Christ. My carnal nature wants its own way - not God’s way. It is a constant struggle. But the struggle is worth it.
So engage. Step up to the plate. Start swinging. Get your head in the game. Eliminate distractions that you know are distractions. Christianity is definitely NOT a spectator sport!
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