7/3/22 - Note from Pastor
As most of you know, I love coaching my sons in baseball. Not only do I love the game and the competition, but I mostly love the life lessons that a sport like baseball can teach young boys.
One of those life lessons that I try to reiterate comes in the form of a question. I’ll ask the boys, “What are two things that require zero talent?” They answer, “Attitude and effort.” The longer I live, the more I see that these two ideas carry weight not only in sports, but in every arena of life: marriage, parenting, work, church membership, discipleship, etc.
Attitude
Philippians 2:14-16 says, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life.” In other words, people who complain are crooked, twisted, blemished, and do not shine or represent Jesus well. Therefore, a complaining Christian is a hypocrite and periodical complaining is perpetual hypocrisy. The way to not complain is to hold fast to the word of life (the Word of God – it brings life). In other words, we must take God at His Word. We must trust Him. A complaining issue is really a trust issue. In what ways do you need to have a better attitude with your spouse, children, work, church, and personal discipleship? Are there areas where you need to pray for God’s blessing and strength to no complain?
Effort
Paul says that we are to “press on toward the goal” and “strive for holiness” (Philippians 3:14; Hebrews 12:14). The Christian life is a life of grace, but that same grace which saves also empowers us to work. God did not say to Israel, “I have saved you from Egypt because you worked hard and earned it.” Neither did He say, “I have saved you by grace and now you just need to sit around and do nothing.” Rather He saves them by His grace and calls them to work hard to reflect His character. Similarly, God calls us to trust and obey; to receive his grace and respond with gospel-driven effort. In what ways are you making grace-empowered effort with your spouse, children, work, church, and personal discipleship? Are there areas where you need to pray for God’s blessing and strength?
Let us continue to exude Christ-like attitude and effort in every aspect of our lives. In so doing, by God’s grace, we will continue to make much of Jesus in all the earth.
One of those life lessons that I try to reiterate comes in the form of a question. I’ll ask the boys, “What are two things that require zero talent?” They answer, “Attitude and effort.” The longer I live, the more I see that these two ideas carry weight not only in sports, but in every arena of life: marriage, parenting, work, church membership, discipleship, etc.
Attitude
Philippians 2:14-16 says, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life.” In other words, people who complain are crooked, twisted, blemished, and do not shine or represent Jesus well. Therefore, a complaining Christian is a hypocrite and periodical complaining is perpetual hypocrisy. The way to not complain is to hold fast to the word of life (the Word of God – it brings life). In other words, we must take God at His Word. We must trust Him. A complaining issue is really a trust issue. In what ways do you need to have a better attitude with your spouse, children, work, church, and personal discipleship? Are there areas where you need to pray for God’s blessing and strength to no complain?
Effort
Paul says that we are to “press on toward the goal” and “strive for holiness” (Philippians 3:14; Hebrews 12:14). The Christian life is a life of grace, but that same grace which saves also empowers us to work. God did not say to Israel, “I have saved you from Egypt because you worked hard and earned it.” Neither did He say, “I have saved you by grace and now you just need to sit around and do nothing.” Rather He saves them by His grace and calls them to work hard to reflect His character. Similarly, God calls us to trust and obey; to receive his grace and respond with gospel-driven effort. In what ways are you making grace-empowered effort with your spouse, children, work, church, and personal discipleship? Are there areas where you need to pray for God’s blessing and strength?
Let us continue to exude Christ-like attitude and effort in every aspect of our lives. In so doing, by God’s grace, we will continue to make much of Jesus in all the earth.
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