Saturday, April 9, 2011

April 10, 2011

"Be not overcome with evil but overcome evil with good."   Romans 12:21

I am serving as an assistant baseball coach for a junior varsity high school team. Billy Thomas is the head coach. We are trying to convince our kids how important it is to practice well because you rarely play better than you practice. The reason you practice is so you don't have to think in the pressure of a game situation, you just respond in the way you have have practiced.

During the Chicago Bulls run of NBA Championships in the 1990's, there was one game winning shot that was made by Johnny Paxson off a pass from Michael Jordan. When the defense collapsed on "MJ" expecting him to take the last shot, Michael kicked it out to Paxson who drained it. In the postgame interview the announcer asked John Paxson (who was the son of a High School coach and had grown up as a "gym rat") how he felt about making the winning shot. I loved his reply, he said, "I have made that shot a thousand times when I was a kid!"

Under the pressure of a final second shot to win an NBA championship game, John Paxson was able to cooly catch the ball and confidently release it because of the hours of practice he invested while growing up.

How will you respond if you are in the last days and if persecution should come? How can you know that you can stand up under the pressure of rejection, or opposition, or threats, or physical abuse - even torture? Do you fear that? Does that prospect frighten you?

I guess no one knows for sure, but if you are not practicing the right actions, attitudes and behaviors now, you won't have a chance under the pressure of intimidation or persecution. Paul reminded the believers in Rome, who where facing persecution, to always do good. When your righteousness is appreciated - that is great. When it is opposed or when it brings pressure - it is all the same to you. You always act you never react. That is the key to being faithful under adverse circumstances.

Life doesn't really have practice sessions. There are no trial runs - just trials. So, what you do every day counts! What you do in your quiet, private moments alone with God when no one is looking will ultimately be exposed when the "game" is on the line. Your private personal preparations will serve you well if these are the end times and persecution arises.

What are you doing today to prepare your for tomorrow? Especially for a tomorrow of turmoil and trouble. How would you fare then if you were to do the things you now do on a daily basis? What habits need to change? What disciplines need to be added or enhanced in your daily routine? Are you overcoming evil with good each day of your life?

What should you do if the persecution comes? Keep worshipping God daily. Keep walking with God daily. And, keep witnessing daily. Then in the difficult days all you have to do is what you always do! You can act rather than react! Just like John Paxson, when the game is on the line you'll deliver!




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