Our Daily Devotional challenges you to grow in your walk with Christ as an athlete or coach. It will motivate you to live for Christ. It is written by various FCA staff, athletes and coaches at all levels - from the pros to the little league! It includes three parts: Ready (the scripture), Set (a story or example), and Go (the application questions).
April 9, 2007
READY:
"No one can serve two masters. . ."
-Matthew 6:24
SET:
Playing the final round of The Masters on Easter Sunday was very fitting for golfer Zach Johnson. For him it was an opportunity to win The Masters while playing for his Master, Jesus Christ. Johnson defeated Tiger Woods by two shots to win only his second PGA (and his first major) tournament. Afterward, he acknowledged that the victory could change things for him professionally, but he maintained that it didn't change who he was personally.
As competitors we cannot allow what happens in competition to change who we are on the inside, and more importantly, whom we serve. Often, people get an indication of whom or what is our "master" by how we respond in both victory and defeat. For Zach Johnson, it is clear that Jesus Christ is his Master. Winning The Masters isn't going to change that.
Everyone serves someone or something. I encourage you to identify whom or what is your master in life and to understand the consequences of serving this master for the rest of your life. If your master is anything or anyone other than Jesus Christ, the product of your service will be worthless in the end. If you want your life to have eternal significance, you must surrender your life to the only one worthy of being called Master: the Lord Jesus Christ.
GO:
1. Have you allowed sports/winning to become your "master"?
2. If Jesus Christ is your Master, what are some other things that challenge your allegiance to Him? If Jesus Christ is not your Master,
whom or what is? Why?
3. Why do you think Jesus says that "No one can serve two masters"?
WORKOUT:
Joshua 24:14-27
2 Timothy 2:19-21
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Josh Carter is a former athlete and coach who currently serves on staff with FCA in the Bloomington-Normal area of Illinois. He has a new sports devotional book out called "Running 2 Win 4 Him - Be The Competitor God Made You To Be." You can purchase a copy at www.crosstrainingpublishing.com.
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