Are you a Starter?
Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 1 Corinthians 9:25 esv
When I taught band, we had pep bands for both junior high and high school basketball games. I loved the atmosphere, the ability to play a larger variety of music, and the general fun of watching basketball. I especially loved the excitement of the introduction of the starting players, we worked up special music for that part of the game, and made a big deal of the introduction of the 5 players in the starting line-up. I remember it being such a huge deal if the starting line-up changed in some way. People talked about how much work that kid put in to get to where he was. The starters were the best of the best. Not only had they made the team and made the varsity team…they were the starters.
Starters are usually the kids that work after practice is over. The ones who run drills at home. The ones who are willing to put in the extra work to have a deeper understanding of the game. They get that natural talent is good, but that it takes work to get their bodies into shape to be able to compete for an extended time.
In your service to the Lord, are you doing the work it takes to be a servant He can use with confidence? Just like an athlete, not only do we need to be at every “practice", we have to exercise our spiritual muscles outside of “team practices.” Showing up for the big game isn’t enough, unless we just want to be spectators or bench warmers. I didn’t get it for the longest time. I was at church, but… my spiritual muscles were atrophied from lack of use. When I broke my leg years ago, I remember how my calf looked after 12 long weeks in a cast and walking boot - it looked like a deflated balloon. There was no muscle tone left, the muscle had withered from lack of use. That muscle tone didn’t come back right away. It took far longer than the 12 weeks it had been inactive for it to redevelop and look the same as the other leg.
We can’t wait until we’re in need to develop our relationship with God. We can’t wait until our kids are teens to build a habit of church attendance. We have to start now. Come to church, even if you’re not in the mood: I always leave in a better mood than when I walked in the door. Read your Bible, even if it seems hard to understand: the Holy Spirit is so gracious when we put in the effort. Pray, even if you can’t come up with the words you should say; God promises us in His word that we will receive the help we need. When I started trying to do better, it was hard. Sometimes, even now, it’s hard. But, I’ve never for a second regretted putting in time with my Lord.
Now is when you start saying, I want to do this… but: and you list your reasons because life is busy. However, God has given us very specific promises:
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:31-33
We’re promised that if we take care of our relationship with God first, that we’ll have what we need. Now, it does say ‘need.’ When I began putting effort into study and prayer, I lost a few things. I lost an or two of hour of tv per night. But, what I also lost was a desire to watch the stuff I used to watch. I lost that old feeling of dread when it was time to decide whether or not to go to Sunday Night or Wednesday Night church. I’m suddenly that annoying person who shows up early and mostly in a great mood because, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” (Psalm 122:1) I’ve heard all my life that when you get saved your “want to” changes. And it does, but when you commit your life fully, and start taking your faith and your Lord more seriously it changes even more.
If you’re saved, you’re on the team, but have you considered upping your game? Have you considered working toward being on the varsity team? Have you considered maybe even becoming a “starter”? The best thing about being on the Lord’s starting line-up is that you don’t have to knock anyone else off the team to level up your game. There’s room for everyone on God’s starting line-up. You won’t get a walk-out song just for you. You probably won’t even get any earthly notice or applause, but God will notice. If you want a starting place for your reading, check out Deuteronomy 28, God, promises so much to the children of Israel if they follow His commandments: “And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.” Deuteronomy 28:2. If the only thing I ever received from spending time with my Lord was just my salvation, it would be enough. If it was my salvation and the closeness I feel with Him, it’s a blessing. If I receive any other blessing at all, it’s overwhelming. God promises that we will have what we need (according to His will). He promises that we will have life ‘more abundant.’ He doesn’t promise a perfect life, or a life free from troubles, but He promises to always be there for us in every struggle.
Get out there and put in the work. And see if it isn’t worth the effort.
