Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Going the Distance

As most of you know that read this blog every week, I love soccer! IT has been a privilege to be able to coach the varsity boys and girls teams at my school now for the last three years. Through this time, I have seen many athletes grow, improve, and enjoy the game as much as I do. The only bad thing about soccer that I have seen through the years is the number of injuries on the field. Many people may not think of soccer as a rough sport, but on the contrary, it is. Some of my players have coined the phrase "football without pads!" as a jive to the school's football team. It never fails that at least three to four times a season, and sometimes more, I will have to go onto the field and carry someone off. Now I like to think of myself as a strong individual. But there has been on an occasion that I was not able to carry some of my athletes off the field. I have coached some really big guys in my time. And there have been occasions that I have had to even carry those kids to the bus, which may be around 100 to 300 yards away. That gets tiring even for some of the girls that I have had to carry. But, it also never fails that many of their team mates pitch in to help. A lot of them will even carry the hurt players gym bag and the player at the same time. They take good care of each other no matter how difficult it may be. This reminds me of a story in the bible.

Luke 5:17-20
"One day He was teaching; and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing. And some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him. But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.”"

Here we see a group of men who were willing to go the distance for a friend. They knew that Jesus was there, and that He was performing miracles. The believed that Jesus could do the same for their friend. When they got to the house where Jesus was, they found that they could not get through the crowd. However, this did not deter them. They climbed onto the roof, carrying their friend as they did, tore a hole in the roof and lowered him down. I love the last verse in this story, especially how it begins. "Seeing their faith..." that being the faith of the paralytic's friends.

How have we gone the distance for someone lately. Have we ever really gone the distance to help those around us in need. Whether they are a friend or not makes no difference. Christianity is the only religion in which we are taught to love our enemies, and to do good to those who mistreat us.

Luke 6:27-28
"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

There are many ways that we can go the distance for those around us. Imagine what it would be like if all Christians would resolve to go the distance for those around us every day. Lives would be changed, and people would become saved! So I encourage you today, go the distance when you see someone in need. You never know, God might have put them there just for you to help and witness to. And it might be all they need to finally put their faith in God and receive salvation.

Thanks for reading and God bless you all this week!

2 comments:

  1. Go the distance for those around us. Something that would truly change this world! Great encouragement Derrick!

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