Love you all, praying for you…
I just love God’s Word, it’s the lens of life. It gives truth for life, and life just gives examples of its truth. Millions of kids around the world, play soccer or basketball, football or baseball. Everyone has dreams of winning the championship – the game winning touchdown, or home run, or last second shot. Lesser thought of - is that very real possibility of blowing it when the chips are down, when the game is on the line. That missed field goal, or fumble at the goal line, or interception that blows out the candle of any last hope you had of victory. That’s why when the pressure is on, and you’re at the free throw line with the game hanging in the balance… most people fold under the pressure. Some kids who are too young and inexperienced yet to face this risk or the adversity of the aftermath, can be scarred by the failure. As if it’s their fault. That one missed free throw didn’t lose the game. Not getting back on defense, quick ill-advised shots, giving up direct lines to the basket, and failing to box-out all combined for the loss, not just the missed free throw at the end. Some kids can’t recover, it becomes a prominent memory of their life. And the devil is always there to remind them. They don’t realize the bigger picture, they don’t understand the game, nor life. So the devil will always remind them of it. Something interesting happened last night. The opening night of the NBA season. Haven’t been a big fan recently, but for years I was, and I caught the last few minutes of the game. After a back and forth down the stretch, my hometown Milwaukee Bucks were down two points with an inbounds play for a chance at the tie or win. Their coach in a slick display of gamesmanship, called an inbounds play they never planned to run. Then called timeout before the five second window expired having learned the defensive strategy of their opponent. The real out of bounds play was a perfectly executed back door alley-oop pass for Giannis to dunk at the rim to tie the game. Perfectly thrown pass, but the defender clearly fouled him. He quite rudely pushed him out of the way while he was in the air - and a sure dunk for a tie, was suddenly foiled to the chagrin of all Milwaukee fans, and the relief of the opposition. Probably the smartest move possible for the defender given the mismatch, but it was still just delaying the inevitable. We’re going to overtime, because up to the line is stepping the two-time reigning NBA MVP, and He plays for us! First free throw – nothing but net. Second free throw for the tie – to send the game into overtime, and remove all momentum from the hopeless opposing team…. And Giannis short-arms it off the front of the rim! The exact paralysis of the pressure of the moment – suffered by every inexperienced sixth or seventh grader. The pressure gets to them, they over think it, they slow down their shooting motion trying to force it in the basket, and it doinks off the front of the rim. Game over. You lose. Your whole team loses, it’s your fault. And this is the NBA MVP! With cry-baby Danny Ainge coming out of his chair his fists in the air, as if he did anything… adding insult to injury - how disappointing. Granted it’s just a season opener… not game seven of the championship… but still, that loss stings, it was right there in our hands. And immediately the aftermath begins. The blame and finger pointing (only by armchair quarterbacks, has-beens, that never even achieved an NBA jersey much less a two-time MVP.) Without Giannis, Milwaukee isn’t even close to winning that game. His response? He has to face a press conference, takes full responsibility, knows he has to do better, and says he learns from every experience. No crying, no head hanging, no pouting, no going up to his room and skipping dinner. He’s a professional, an MVP. And I’d hate to be the next team that has to face him. In life there are moments of failure, that will test you. Times you fall short of your goal. The game of basketball is just a game, it means nothing! Only 20 years later for some old guys arguing who really was the best of all time… It doesn’t matter, no one cares – they have their own lives and problems to deal with. But with every failure comes a choice, will it paralyze you or propel you? Will this moment define you? or will you determine to attack the next opportunity with even more resolve and confidence, starting tomorrow in practice, or tonight when you get home? Games mean nothing, life is far more important. Some mistakes are choices, we just call them mistakes. Choosing sin, when overcoming is just a choice away, and God’s Grace is even there for you. The way out that He promised, is right there! You don’t have to go with them, you don’t have to participate in that conversation, you don’t have to yield to that thought process… But you choose the wrong, instead of the right – the opportunity for victory is lost, and the devil is right there to remind you of it. He wants to convince you – that this is your defining moment – so that any future failure, or bad choice can drive the nail further… He is a liar. When it comes to free-throws – it’s a numbers game. No one shoots 100%, no one. Not even NBA MVPs – so why do you spend more time thinking about it, than about two full seconds? And when it comes to wrong choices that do impact your life and your relationship with God… It is important, don’t minimize the offense of your choice, God hates sin, He hates it. He paid too high a price, for you to keep sinning… But there is one thing the devil cannot do. He’s powerless. He cannot stop God from forgiving you. If you repent and turn (think differently about what you did… no, it’s not OK, it’s wrong, it disappoints and offends God, but if you confess it, turn from it, turn to Him, and let Him move you forward from here, His mercy and grace define you – infinitely more than a wrong choice you made. It doesn’t define you any more than one free throw defines Giannis – He’s a first ballot hall of famer when he hangs up his shoes, forever an MVP, and no one will remember this in the end. Just like God can erase your wrong choices. Jesus said, Go and sin no more… take the grace available to you next time, you will, and then you will again… Michael Jordan lost nine years in a row before winning an NBA championship – how did that work out for him? Lebron for eight or nine years couldn’t win, and was even getting the reputation of just can’t win the big game… Until he took his talents to South Beach… Games mean nothing, life is far more important, choices make a difference, but if you make the wrong one, you can walk in the forgiveness, and the grace of God. His Word defines you, His grace defines you – that’s power to overcome, and you surely will. Don’t let the devil lie to you. Giannis is still a Hall of Famer, its just a matter of time. God’s mercies are new every morning. Walk in the grace and the light that He gives, because God has championships waiting for you! Love you all, dad
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