June 17, 2013 - Desperation results in Determination!

The NBA Finals have been crazy this year; it has been back and forth blowouts with neither team taking control of the series. What has been a huge part of the discussion is the Miami Heat’s inability to win back-to-back games. After posting a 27-game win streak during the season, they appeared to be in full stride for the playoffs. Yet they have not won consecutive games in the past month and now find themselves down 3-2 and in jeopardy of a very disappointing end to the season…

Many analysts have tried to figure it out by stating that the Heat simply do not play with urgency until their backs are to the wall. (Although there very well may be some truth to that, I also think it has to do with the fact that they are playing a great team in the Spurs! Coach Popovich has a great game plan and makes great adjustments after each of the Spurs losses. And for those that want to totally slam LeBron for not taking over, remember that he plays in a modern NBA that allows for teams to play zones and shut down driving lanes; “Pop” has devised a great defensive scheme for the Heat!)

But I digress into basketball analyst instead of devotion-writer… back to the idea of playing with a sense of urgency…

I do agree that any athlete tends to find a new gear when faced with elimination. This is true in any sport. When the clock is running out you see intensified defense; you see players rushing to score; you see more timeouts called to try to re-focus on the plan. In short – Desperation results in Determination!

I am leaving in just a few minutes to work a camp in Georgia (and then on to the Dominican republic… and then Tennessee… and Indiana… and Missouri… and you get the picture.) The camp is geared toward the clarity of the Gospel and the call to share this incredible message!

This week I give you a very simple reminder that we are called to be “ambassadors” (2 Corinthians 5) and to the great comMISSION of evangelism and discipleship (Matthew 28.)

Yet I also remind you of the urgency of this calling. John 4 records a discussion between Jesus and His disciples. The disciples were worried about daily provisions (specifically what food they would eat) and Jesus redirects their attention. Jesus responds that He is more concerned with doing “the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” (vs 34)

We would all agree it is important to do the Father’s will and work… yet as humans we tend to put things off. So Christ gives a very clear picture stating that the “fields” (those needing to be reached / “harvested”) are “already white for harvest.” (vs 35)

In other words, there is no time to waste! It is a picture of urgency!  The “harvest time” is now!!!!!!!

People of a lost and dying world have their backs to the wall in real jeopardy of losing for eternity! Our job/calling is to hear their desperate cries and share the truth with them!

Desperation should lead us to Determination to share the Gospel!