Colossians 3:17
(NIV)
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the
Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Sports is a huge part of our society. From the time children
can walk they are introduced to sports; soccer, football, baseball, hockey,
basketball, tennis, golf, etc. Many children are enrolled in sports programs
that can dominate their lives. The message that they receive is that sports is
an important part of their lives, if not an essential part.
As children grow into adulthood there is a shift. As the
demands of work take center stage, sports is relegated to some evenings and
weekends. Many adults cease to be active participants and become avid spectators.
Others fall into the category of weekend warriors who participate in some
organized form of their chosen sport.
There is a big difference between a professional athlete and
a weekend warrior. For the professional, their sport is their life. It
dominates everything that they do. For the weekend warrior, their sport is a
hobby that they indulge in periodically.
I think that many of us are more like weekend warriors than
pro athletes when it comes to our faith. We gear up for Sunday and possibly
some weekday small group or Bible study but focus on other things the rest of
the time. Our faith is not the dominant force in our everyday lives. It isn’t
that we don’t believe or that our faith is not genuine. It does mean that we
approach our faith more like a hobby than a lifestyle.
The Bible is clear that our faith should permeate every
aspect of our lives. It should shape our personality, our character, and the
way we interact with others and the world around us. As Paul states in his
letter to the Ephesians, we are to live a life worthy of our calling in Christ.
(Eph. 4:1)
In essence, Paul is challenging us to move from being
weekend warriors to the pro level. He challenges us to up our game to a new
level of spiritual reality. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is
noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever
you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into
practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)
Paul doesn’t leave us in a vacuum to figure out how to be a
spiritual pro. He gives us practical guidance about what is involved in living
our faith as a daily experience. First, he instructs us to put on the right
equipment.
Ephesians 6:10-18
(NIV)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full
armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For
our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against
the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full
armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your
ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the
belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness
in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the
gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with
which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the
helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And
pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
He also translates this into specific actions that we can
incorporate into our everyday lives.
Ephesians 4:25-32,
5:1-2 (NIV)
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his
neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not
sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not
give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but
must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have
something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out
of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to
their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy
Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of
all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of
malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as
in Christ God forgave you.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of
love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering
and sacrifice to God.
I was running the other day and a man rode up next to me on
his bike. He said, I could never do what you are doing. I told him that I
started running many years ago and have just kept it up. In sports, a person
doesn’t go from a weekend warrior to a pro athlete overnight. It takes
discipline, consistency, and hard work. A person starts with the basics and
gradually refines their skills. Each step taken moves a person closer to the
goal.
In the same way, we do not move from being a spiritual
weekend warrior to a spiritual pro overnight. In fact, it is a lifelong journey.
The more we discipline our daily lives to be in line with God’s design, the
more we will move toward being a full-time believer of Christ. When it comes to
sports, it is okay to be a weekend warrior. But we should never settle for that
as a follower of Christ. Our walk with Him is far too important.
Colossians 3:23-24
(NIV)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord,
not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord
as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
