July 30, 2018 - All Show... No Go!!!!

I have witnessed many athletes that were really good at skills and drills; we live in a modern culture where players are in the gym more than ever… camps/personal trainers/etc. Yet, what I don’t see is kids just learning to play the game…

I’ve written in the past about times I’d witness a guy in the shooting lines before a game that looked incredible… great form… draining shots; only to watch him fold under game pressure… or even at times to be shocked that he didn’t even make it off the bench.

All show… no go!!!

I preached yesterday from 1 Peter. What I saw was a reminder that we need to be focused on being active in the game… making a difference. Peter reminds us that we are given a new identity and that should be exhibited not just by what we avoid or how we look, but also in what “noise” we are making.

I love players that make some noise; you can’t do that much from the warm-up lines, no stats are kept there; or from the bench where no shots are taken…

1 Peter 2:9-10 (The Message): 9-10 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.

Do you see that we are called to be used by God… telling or proclaiming His graciousness! Verse 12 goes on to talk about showing out in the game… it states that we should be so active “AMONG” non-believers that they ask about what makes us different… and are left giving the glory to God…

I emphasize the word AMONG to remind us that we can’t make a difference from the bench… or even from the training situations… no matter how many shots you make in practice or warm-ups. They count zero in the game!

I often see people that look great in church… even spend a lot of time there… yet are not making a difference AMONG the world. All show… no go!

1 Peter 3:15 (The Message): “Be ready to speak up and tell everyone why you are living the way you are, and always with the most courtesy.”