January 3, 2011 - Don't settle for less than the best!

As I am in the midst of another ROCK’em Road Trip with our ministry I get to see so many areas in each of our lives that need attention. Being 2½ weeks into this I am starting to get tired and need to make sure I am staying alert and aware of things going on around me. I need to make sure I am still seeking God’s best for these players and not just going through the motions and settling for less than best.

It is just like in a game. What happens to teams toward the end of games? Often you see players making mental mistakes – because they are fatigued! We see players stop executing and trying to hit the “big shot.” Why? Because execution involves alertness, discipline, thinking, etc. It is much easier when tired to settle for less than best.

I watched a couple of games yesterday and saw this very thing happening. One game involved a team that was winning big yet would at times flatten out and stop executing. That team still won the game on the scoreboard because of their superiority over the opponent; yet they did not play to the fullest of their abilities and were not necessarily successful just because they had the higher score. (In fairness to the young men they had played a lot of games over the last week and were physically tired.)

The second game involved a team that was winning for the majority of the game but as time wore on they wore down, not physically but mentally. They simply stopped executing and in turn lost the game.

In life we will have times of fatigue, discouragement, boredom, etc. All of these things can be very dangerous if we are not in great spiritual condition. All of these things can lead to a settling for less than best. It can be in one’s work, school, dating relationships, goals, etc. every aspect of our lives should come under the instruction of God’s Word, which gives us the best!

1 Thessalonians 5 gives us a great admonition about “execution” of God’s “game plan.” We are commanded to not settle for less than the best! Read the following verse from the Message translation: “But friends, you're not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You're sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let's not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let's keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we're creatures of Day, let's act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.” (Verses 4-8)

Did you get that? Think clearly! Be alert! Play the way God intended you to play!