Monday, August 15, 2016

ATHLETICS 2016

If you were in UAE, summer months  especially August  is your best hate month because of the soaring temperature reaching up to 52 degrees celsius.  This is the time of month were in the you want to  leave the country and be in a place where in the weather will refreshes you.  But for us Friday school teachers ( Sunday School teachers for others),  this is the time of the year  we are excited to come (True?  teachers :) ). Why? not because the kids are few, but  because this is the month  for our annual Vacation Bible School (VBS).  A 2 whole day of fun filled activities, singing, dancing, playing  and learning  more about our Savior Jesus Christ.  This year, we have held our VBS last Aug 12-13, 2016 at Crystal Plaza Hotel.  This is my 9th year  of VBS in this country and each year's experience are always memorable and exciting.  This is also the year wherein I tried to assist in toddler class ,usually I prepared the higher level, because I think my patience is not as elastic as rubber band. I do love kids but dealing with them the whole day with all kinds of tantrums is another story.
 
VBS theme for this year  is all about being an athlete (Hebrews 12:1b).  Each one of us has its own race that  are  set  before us and we are expected to finish the race no matter how hard and difficult it will be along the way.  God commanded us to Fight the Good fight, Finish the Race  and Keep the Faith.   As an  athlete there  are  5   athletic qualities  that all of us must also  possessed, Discipline, Focus, Endurance, Teamwork and Confidence.

1. Focus - Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  For his sake I have discarded everything , counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ  ( Philippians 3:8 NLT).  

An athlete should focus mainly to one goal, that is to get the  prize.  Focus is the quality that  all athletes need to have.  They should set their minds  on their goals and do everything they can to achieve it.   They do not look at their opponents, on the judges, on the spectators  but instead they keep their eyes on the target, on the finish line.  Moses is a good example  for this attitude.  He was a prince  who  gave up his high position and all the treasures of his kingdom because he fixed his attention  on something  that is more important, more valuable than  all the riches of the whole world.
  
But then distraction  is the  primary obstacle  of an athlete.  Competing  in a game is not measured  on how you started the game  but on how you played during the game.  Same with us,  upon reaching the finish line, God will not asked us on what kind of life we have, but on how we live our life along our  journey. Let us not be distracted  on what is happening around us but instead , let us always keep our eyes on Jesus , the author and  finisher of our faith. Let always be reminded that  what we have here  on earth is nothing compare  to  the treasures  that  awaits  us in heaven.

2.  Discipline -  Therefore , since we are surrounded by such a great  cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  (Hebrews 12:1 NIV).

A disciplined athlete is a victorious athlete.  An athlete  whose competing in a game, may he be a runner, swimmer , boxer or a  gymnast undergone a strict training and discipline before the competition.  They follow certain strict  diets, training  and exercises in order for them to be strong and fit.  They give up the comfort they have in exchange of the   gold prize after the competition.  As  Christian athletes we too are expected to be strong and fit but not only physically but most importantly, we should be fit spiritually.    Continuous reading of His words,  praying unceasingly,  faithful tithing, not giving up meeting together are some of those discipline that we have to endure. 
     

With the story of Achan, God had commanded the Israelite  to destroy the entire city of Jericho because of its great sin, He also commanded them not to take anything from Jericho. He warned then that bringing anything would lead the whole camp in destruction and whoever found guilty  will be liable for that. The Israelites obeyed, except for Achan, he stole beautiful robes, some gold and silver and hid all these things in his tent.  His  sin was discovered, of course (Numbers 32:23) and God commanded Achan and his entire family including all his  animals to be stoned to death. Sin hinders us from continuing the race. It entangles  on us that  limits our movement and later on crippled us.  But if we will look to Jesus alone  and fixed our eyes in Him, we will be sure that even though sins  keep on blocking our way,  Jesus will be always be near us to help us to run through every obstacle that will come along our way.

3.  Endurance -Let  us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of  our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

You will know  a good runner not   on how fast  he was  in the starting  point,  but on how fast he will become to reach  the finish line.  We have seen a lot of runner who are very fast  after the gun shot but are left behind   in the middle of the race.  Or we know people who makes resolutions then stop when it gets uncomfortable. Some stop working on their task and leave them undone. When difficulty comes, when they have to deal with difficulties, when its becomes painful, they become shortsighted. They see everything blurred immediately and focus on the present pain instead of the future gain.

Jesus knew before hand that His greatest mission was to be the sacrificial Lamb of God. The One who will take away the sins of the world.  He can refuse it  if he wants  to but still he chose to come to the earth and die in a shameful manner for us to gain the beautiful life in heaven.  In the last hours before He was arrested, He went to the Garden of Gethsemane to  pray with His disciples, He knew  the ordeal that  He will going through, but still He surrendered to the will of God.  After He prayed , Jesus found His disciple asleep instead  of praying with Him.  Not long ago, He was arrested.  He faced the betrayal of  one of His disciple, the mocking of the people, the painful crown of thorns,  the spits on this face, being nailed on the cross and died, but He bore them all. If we will weigh the hardship that He went through, it's not even close to an inch to what we are suffering right now.  As we face our present hardship, remember we are not alone on this battle because our Heavenly Father will strengthen us as we surrender our life to Jesus Christ, who faced and endured the worst for our sake.

4. Teamwork - And let us consider how may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24 

Teamwork allows us to do things with others that would take a  lot of time, effort and energy if we will do it by our own.  Teamwork allows us to gather more ideas, support  and build trust  and mutual encouragement  with each other.  Teamwork isn't a new concept.  Even during early days.  Team work was first originated by God when He formed the earth thru the help of the Son and Holy Spirit.  Among are Adam and Eve, Moses and Joshua, Paul and Silas, Peter  and  John and of course Jesus and His disciple. They worked hand in hand, and face every hardship together, for one common  goal - To glorify and give honor to God.   In the story of Paul, he spent his time with the couple Priscilla and Aquila in making tents  and in the same way sharing  about Jesus.  The three of them traveled to Ephesus as a team  until such time  Paul left them and headed on His own  journey.  By then,  the couple are teaming with Apollos,  though he was an educated man, he was humble enough to listen and take instruction from the couple. When we join God's family  , we become one team, and as one body. We work together in harmony to fulfill and accomplish God's plan for everyone.
  
5. Confidence I have fought the good fight of faith. I have  finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store  for me  the crown of righteousness.  2 Timothy 4:7-8a.   

The life of an athlete is not easy, he will endure everything for him to be fit   to compete and win the gold.    The apostle Paul was very much familiar with the concept of suffering because he himself experienced it.  He endured the pain of being hated by his own people.  It was not easy. Growing  up he enjoyed the respect  of his people because of his exceptional knowledge of  the Law.  But by following Jesus  he risked everything he had.  He also endured death.  They arrested him and even put to jail because of his conviction - to proclaim the truth about the resurrection of Jesus, His Master.   Yet in spite of everything Paul's faith did not waiver.  He endured everything  because He know that Jesus equipped him not only to the ministry but also to all the sufferings he will get through.  He is confident  that if he will stick on the plan that Jesus prepared for him , he will finish the race triumphantly.  Paul was able to finish well the race because he had eternity in his mind.  He is fully sure of that the temporary pain and suffering   that he need to endure while on earth were insignificant compared to the  eternal rewards that awaits with him in heaven with Jesus.  Same with us, Jesus promised us a heavenly reward for those who love and serve Him faithfully.

It may be tiring but at the end of the day, it's always brings us so much joy, knowing that we are imparting   with these children, the Good News,   that  Jesus loves us and He died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins, He then rose again, returned to heaven  prepared a place for us and promised that we will be with Him together in eternity

All the hardship and all the preparations are worth it because we know that our labor will not be  in vain.  And in the end we have the confidence  that we have finished the race well.

 To God be all the glory.





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