1-5-2015

Good Morning All!!   

          1 Corinthians 14:12; “So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.”

      I remember listening to a famous college basketball coach a number of years ago talking about the types of athletes that he dealt with.  The first group was the eager group.  These athletes never missed practice and were early for the start time.  They would listen intently to the instructions and strived to do things in the fashion that the coaches asked.  They would encourage their teammates even as they challenged them for playing time.  They worked hard and even stayed after practice to get better.

    The second group of athletes he dealt with was arrogant athletes.  They may or may not come to practice because they don’t feel they need it.  They never listen to the coach because they have all the answers.  They would denigrate their teammates and were usually confrontational in the interactions with teammates and coaches.  They left when the clock said practice was over whether the practice was complete or not.

    The third group of athletes was the apathetic group.  They may or may not come to practice.  If it was too early, or too late, or too long or too much work or if they had somewhere else they wanted to go all played a part in the decision.  They would listen to the coach unless the cheerleaders were practicing, or someone said something funny or they were bored or the coach would tell them something they didn’t like.  In the end, the coach said he would take a team of eager athletes even if they had less talent than either the arrogant or apathetic athletes. 

    I wonder if we could measure people who come to church in the same fashion.  The one group is arrogant.  They already know all there is to know.  They have read the Bible and have already decided what parts apply to them and which parts do not.  They have already assigned all that they plan to give to God.  They look at people and situations and decide what God should do about it and then walk away.

   The apathetic will come to church and participate unless it is too cold or too hot, unless church is too early or too late or too long or there is something else they would rather do.  As long as no one expects them to be part of the ministry of the church or give of their talents or time or especially their treasure and as long as they don’t have to let anyone know that they belong to a church you can maybe count on them. 

   Then there are the eager members.  These are the ones who earnestly seek after God and his Word.  They hear his Word and respond in faith.  They seek after his grace and ways to share it with those around them.  They listen to his Word and strive to live as his redeemed children.   

       Which one are you?

Father, heal me of all my failures and shortcomings.  Make me you eager child.  Move me by your Spirit to share your love.  Move me to compassion.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen   

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret