AVOID BEING DISQUALIFIED!
If you love athletics, then Sunday August 28, 2011 would have been an unforgettable day. With thousands of spectators in the stadium in South Korea and millions more watching on TV, Usain Bolt, the fastest man on earth, had a false start. Immediately, he was DISQUALIFIED from competing in the 100 meters finals at the World Champions. Why? The International Athletics Associations of Federations (IAAF) changed their rules. Before, runners were allowed two false starts before BEING DISQUALIFIED. Now it’s one. First strike and you’re out! On that day the reign and dominance of Bolt ended with a DISQUALIFICATION. So our FF for today is a warning – AVOID BEING DISQUALIFIED!
In my younger days I was quite the athlete (don’t worry I have the memories of winning even though I can’t find the trophies). The pressure I felt running at primary school is nothing compared to performing on the world’s biggest stage. But one lesson that I learnt then was that a runner’s mind must be in control of his body. It is the mind that tells the body to keep going even though your legs want to stop. But it is the same mind that says to the body that is under starter’s order when not to move. A false start happens because loss of control – even if it is for that split second! And when it does occur you have no one else to blame but yourself. So what does Bolt’s surprise DISQUALIFICATION teach all of us who are running the Christian race? Practice self control! Remember, it’s one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22 – 23). Don’t fool ourselves, even the strongest Christian can with one false move, because of lack of self control can find him/herself BEING DISQUALIFIED.
There is a way to AVOID BEING DISQUALIFIED. Hebrews 12: 1, 2a say Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. HereÂ’s what we need to remember:
1. We have a huge crowd giving us a ‘faith cheer’ – Go! Go! Go! Go!
2. Drop the excess weight of that recurring sin thatÂ’s keeping us back!
3. This race calls for running with stamina because itÂ’s a marathon, not a sprint!
4. Jesus is our lead runner. Keep focused on him because heÂ’s already won the race!
Unlike Bolt, our first sin doesn’t immediately DISQUALIFY us as Christians. God’s grace allows us to stay in the race even when we’ve made a wrong move. But to AVOID BEING DISQUALIFIED let’s ensure that we don’t cheapen God’s ‘amazing’ grace by continuing in sin BEING sorrowful but still unrepentant. 2 Cor. 10:7 says Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. Although God forgives and restores, we may DISQUALIFY ourselves from serving in the way God intended. And so the consequences of BEING DISQUALIFIED are far reaching. Bolt still has 2012 Olympics ahead of him but we will always remember when he got DISQUALIFIED at the World Champions.
For some of us the Christian race has had its moments when we felt as though we were already DISQUALIFIED. But if the Holy Spirit still convicts us of sin then thank God that means, we’re still in the race. But let’s learn from the bruises we got when we tripped and fell. With the ‘cheer faith’ of others and with the help of our lead runner, get back up and keep on running. This time though we’re more determined to run in such a manner that we practice self control in order to AVOID BEING DISQUALIFIED!
Mikie Roberts (Rev)
HereÂ’s the link for the blog. Join in the discussions.
http://moravians.net/serendipity/index.php?/categories/1-Friday-Focus
There is a way to AVOID BEING DISQUALIFIED. Hebrews 12: 1, 2a say Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. HereÂ’s what we need to remember:
1. We have a huge crowd giving us a ‘faith cheer’ – Go! Go! Go! Go!
2. Drop the excess weight of that recurring sin thatÂ’s keeping us back!
3. This race calls for running with stamina because itÂ’s a marathon, not a sprint!
4. Jesus is our lead runner. Keep focused on him because heÂ’s already won the race!
Unlike Bolt, our first sin doesn’t immediately DISQUALIFY us as Christians. God’s grace allows us to stay in the race even when we’ve made a wrong move. But to AVOID BEING DISQUALIFIED let’s ensure that we don’t cheapen God’s ‘amazing’ grace by continuing in sin BEING sorrowful but still unrepentant. 2 Cor. 10:7 says Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. Although God forgives and restores, we may DISQUALIFY ourselves from serving in the way God intended. And so the consequences of BEING DISQUALIFIED are far reaching. Bolt still has 2012 Olympics ahead of him but we will always remember when he got DISQUALIFIED at the World Champions.
For some of us the Christian race has had its moments when we felt as though we were already DISQUALIFIED. But if the Holy Spirit still convicts us of sin then thank God that means, we’re still in the race. But let’s learn from the bruises we got when we tripped and fell. With the ‘cheer faith’ of others and with the help of our lead runner, get back up and keep on running. This time though we’re more determined to run in such a manner that we practice self control in order to AVOID BEING DISQUALIFIED!
Mikie Roberts (Rev)
HereÂ’s the link for the blog. Join in the discussions.
http://moravians.net/serendipity/index.php?/categories/1-Friday-Focus
Comments
No comments