For the love of the game...

You have to wonder; how many young athletes have walked away from the game simply because they were “driven” to practice, practice, practice, so they could win at the expense of everything else? When my dad introduced my younger brother and me to the game of ice hockey he managed to help us first love the game and then learn how to play. As it turned out it was the love of the game that pushed us to play together for over 50 years (we still love to get out on the ice and shoot the puck around).

In our walk with Christ our spiritual training (the regular use of the many spiritual practices) can be much the same in that it is always best when they are motivated by a “love affair” with Jesus.

Anything less can lead into a performance based type of Christianity; the practice of the spiritual “disciplines” can grow old and when our enthusiasm wanes (which means you’re human) we have nothing left. Worse yet, we’re stuck with a guilt complex because we’re not “doing” what we’re supposed to be doing. Sound familiar?

Read the following and then ask yourself a few questions:

Psalm 86:1-13
Hear, O LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
2 Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.
You are my God; save your servant
who trusts in you.
3 Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to your servant,
for to you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul.
5 You are forgiving and good, O Lord,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
6 Hear my prayer, O LORD;
listen to my cry for mercy.
7 In the day of my trouble I will call to you,
for you will answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
9 All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, O Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
12 I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.

Questions:

1. Why do I engage in the practices of prayer and Bible study?
2. Why do I want to help others who have less and need some TLC?
3. Why do I want to learn and grow?
4. What is my real motivation? Does it need to change?
5. Have I actually fallen in love with Jesus?


Compassion Rules! Live your Life...