Saturday Soccer

Last Sunday evening a mate of mine preached on Titus 2:9-15. It was really helpful. One thing that struck me, was how he applied God's Word to our life.

One illustration he used was about sports. He was sharing how amazed he is when he watches Christians play sport. He was observing how, it seems that Christians don't apply godliness when it comes to sport, or they have this idea that God's Word does not apply to athletic pursuits. They yell, swear, shove, elbow, cheat & carry on without considering their call to godliness even in sports.

Titus 2: 11- 12 reads: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age".

As a father, my temptation is to just let Caleb go out this morning for his first soccer game and not provide any direction! I mean it is his first ever soccer game! He is only 10! But that is not being faithful to my responsibility as a father, nor is it helpful. It's my responsibility to remind him of how God's word instructs us to live. It's a privilege to remind him that winning is important, but it is not the ultimate end. Extreme? Not when you read God's Word. Not when we look to our Savior who called us to Himself, and made a way for us to have eternal life.

Titus 2:13-14 reads: while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

This is it! Our hope - those who have called on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ - is not in winning a soccer game - not in making thousands of dollars - not in owning our own home - it is in - THE GLORIOUS APPEARING OF OUR GREAT GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!

Dads, our kids need to hear the truth! I pray you will serve your wife and children this day with an eternal perspective - for the GLORY OF GOD!