As a coach I remember those times when our team was
facing seemingly insurmountable odds; the opponent was simply bigger than we
felt prepared to face; some of my players were playing “scared”; some of my
players were simply shutting down as if to say. “What’s the use?”
It was during those times that I learned to break the
game down into smaller increments. At times I might call for us to try to win
the quarter… other times I may even say let’s win the next 4 minutes… and in
extreme cases I may even say let’s just see if this play will when the next
possession. I wanted to get my players to stop looking always at end results
and instead be faithful in the moment… and what they would find is that end
results take care of themselves when you win the play with consistency.
Sometimes I feel like we, the church, spend so much time
with the looking at the condition of the world and the enormous task we have in
trying to reach people that we play “scared” or even shut down as if to say, “What’s
the use?”
The reality is that we read so much garbage on social
networks and listen to so much garbage from new outlets that we live in fear
and frustration instead of in boldness and victory.
Can I simply remind us this week that our job is
ultimately to reach individuals with the Gospel and nto necessarily the masses…
and what we will find is that eventually we have reached enough individuals to
be classified as “masses.”
Today “win the day” by being an influence at work or
school! Today “win the play” by being an influence on individuals you come in
contact with (each person a possibility!)
Our church entered into “21 Days of Prayer” this morning
leading up to Easter Sunday. The reality is that Easter is a prime time with
fertile ground to share the Gospel. People will go to church on Easter that
never grace the doors on other Sundays. People are open to discussions about
the death and resurrection, especially the resurrection since that was the game
changer that sets Jesus apart! (Obviously there are many other things that set
Him apart… i.e. God in the flesh, Virgin birth, perfect life, substitutionary
death, etc. – but the resurrected Jesus is what caught even the skeptic’s eye!)
So my challenge this week is in line with our church’s
challenge: Let’s W.I.kN. the next 3 weeks!
Witness: take
time to share the message of the crucified and risen Savior – our Substitute!
Invite: take time
to ask people to attend church with you on Easter so they will hear the Gospel
proclaimed!
kNeel: in daily prayer for those that you know that need the
Lord; those that will be sharing the Gospel that they will be faithful and
clear; for opportunities for you to share the Gospel with and/or to invite friends,
neighbors, coworkers, fellow students, people in the grocery store line, etc.
to church with you on Easter!
Acts 4:31 And when they had
prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were
all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.
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