February 10, 2010
What We're Here For
I’ve just started reading Sarah Palin’s book, Going Rogue and it looks like I’ll be learning a lot about Alaska. In her book she relates a lesson from her softball coach and I’m glad she passed it on to her readers. Sarah describes herself as a weak softball player so catching a fly ball was an opportunity for celebration and rejoicing. The coach yelled, “That’s what you’re supposed to do girl! Quit acting surprised when you do what you’re put there to do!” We believers often bathe ourselves in surprised when we see what the Spirit accomplishes through us. I can imaging the Lord saying, ‘Quit acting surprised when you do what you’re put here to do!’
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Gail;
-----This seems to be a popular expression amongst coaches. Bill Cower, past head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, told his players they should not celebrate touchdowns for the same reason. And as wise as the insight may be, I believe even wiser insight is first to coach the players on how to catch fly balls and how to get into the end zone. Once they have learned well, then the surprise can no longer be expected. The lack of that crucial coaching step may account for the surprise we display at the work of the Holy Spirit.
-----We can do nothing without the Lord. That is certain. But what is also apparent in the Word is the subject of the predominant number of its imperative statements - you. Flip to most any page of the New Testament epistles and you will see this. I Thes 4:1, “...you ought to live and to please God...” not, “...the Spirit ought to live and please God through you...” I Cor 4:16, “I urge you, then, be imitators of me,” not, “I urge the Spirit to imitate me through you.” Gal 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens,” not “Allow the Spirit to bear one another’s burdens through you.” And Rom 12:10, “...outdo one another in showing honor,” not, “outdo one another in allowing the Spirit to show honor through you.” Again, we must walk in the Spirit, abide in the Spirit, and humble ourselves in the Spirit - we are nothing without the Spirit. But God has chosen to be nothing in this world without us.
-----What I mean is, that being the body of Christ, we are His hands and feet and arms and legs for getting done what needs done. Our initiatives and industrious actions are not taken from our own control just because the Holy Spirit has joined with our spirits. In fact, we become all the more responsible for learning godly attitudes and the processes by which they become godly behaviors and actions. It isn’t that these make us anything more to the Lord, and it is less that they make it any more likely we will be admitted into His eternal kingdom. It is that He has chosen us to be His servants and ambassadors to make motions and noises on this earth for His kingdom.
-----I believe this is why the writer of Hebrews told us to obey our leaders. They are the coaches, if indeed they have been selected by the principles Paul gave to Timothy and Titus. For if so, they are the more mature and skilled of us in godly attitudes, behaviors, and in knowledge of the Word. The obedience the rest of us render to them is first and foremost for our learning godliness of attitude and behavior.
-----How often do we huff angrily? Show spite? Hold grudges? Complain in traffic? Or even display irritation at the unsociable, household cat? On the football field, any of these would be called false steps. False steps leave a player out of position. Out of position players loose plays. Lost plays loose ball games. The Lord needs wins. Though each player may have great spirit, the drive of that spirit magnifies the effect of false steps. It is the player who makes the steps. A good coach knows this, and will only expect touchdowns to be duty after he has trained the players to step carefully.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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