I press on toward the goal to win the prize
for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14
The media’s been having a field day with the interview–or rant, depending on your interpretation–with Richard Sherman after the Seahawks won a spot in this year’s Super Bowl. I observed the brouhaha from the vantage point of a person with zero interest in any sport other than Olympic level figure skating and congratulated myself for devoting my energy and time to better, more dignified pursuits.
Until the recollection of my behavior at our church’s Minute to Win It competition held the same day as the Seahawks game brought me down a peg or two. In case the buzz hasn’t reached you yet, our small church won the competition. We also took possession of the big, shiny, traveling trophy. Which if you’re interested, is on display in the church’s foyer for the next month.
Admittedly, our team won with little assistance from me. Unless my cheering for the more athletic members of our group counts as more help than hindrance. I cheered with gusto matched only by a willingness to interpret the rules so our team would win, WIN, W-I-N! Thankfully, they didn’t take my advice. Instead, they embraced the spirit of the evening and won, won, won by following the rules.
Now when the Richard Sherman interview–or rant–gets air time, I can no longer observe the brouhaha from the vantage point of someone far, far superior to those engaged in this media sports circus frenzy. I must observe it from the vantage point of someone equally capable and culpable of winning-is-all-that-matters behavior.
The implications of this realization stun, scare, and humble me. If I so quickly cast good sportsmanship aside for the sake of a shiny trophy, how might I respond in a situation with much higher stakes? How can I keep that happening?
The truth is that as a frail, feeble human trying to resist temptation on my own, I will fail again. The same truth holds for you, though your temptation may not be a big, shiny trophy gloriously displayed at the church welcome center. But whatever your temptation is, you will also fail to overcome it on your own. Unless you, me, and Richard Sherman have something greater and higher in our lives to motivate us, we will fail again and again and again.
To win we need something–no–we need someone to live for. Someone who is greater than our own whims and desires. Someone able to capture our hearts. Someone who is a prize above and beyond any other. To win, we need Jesus.
We need Jesus in us and beside us. We need his voice whispering truth in our ears when we’re tempted by big, shiny trophies. We need his hands on our shoulders steering us in the right direction. We need his voice cheering us on.
Look up!
Look at me!
Press on toward the goal!
Win the the true prize…eternal life in me!
We need his spirit within us, changing our hearts until, with unfailing certainty, we know Jesus is the true prize, the only prize worth winning.
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