Devotional thought for the church bulletin
World cup fever has hit the country like the winter flu. It would seem that many have been struck with the bug. Strangely for a person who enjoys football I haven’t been overly interested and usually pick up the scores from the radio. Observing this event at a distance has caused me to ponder some important spiritual truths.
a) Sports enthusiasts often put Christians to shame with their passion and diligence. Some people will travel to the ends of the earth to watch their team in action. The football bug is presently driving folk out of their beds at ridiculously early hours. As Christians, what lengths are we prepared to go to in order to serve the Lord? How often do we rise early specifically to seek His face? In what ways do we die daily to self?
b) It has been interesting to see people who are not the least sports minded being swept along. One lady I spoke to has been rising in the wee hours and she knows nothing about football. As I was talking to her she was checking her phone for up-to-date scores! It reminds me of the power of sin and how easily we are swept along by the appetites and opinions around us. It is foolish to think we are immune simply because we are Christians. The miasma (atmosphere) of sin is far more infectious than the miasma of the world cup.
c) So much time, money, effort, etc. for what? – an earthly prize which fades away about as quickly as the game lasts. I remember as a boy people marvelling at the skills of Johan Cruyff and the Dutch team of the 1970’s. They scored in the 1974 world cup final without the Germans touching the ball. Quite amazing, but at the end of the day who really cares. What valuable contribution has Johan Cruyff made to humanity? Athletes provide good examples of perseverance, but they are not good role models.
May we use every means around us to stir us up in our walk with Christ. Hebrews 12:1-2, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”