"Part of the game"

It has been interesting to follow ESPN and articles concerning Derek Jeter's faking being hit by a baseball to reach first base to help the Yankees win. Most of the comments supported the "acting". Men justified why it was okay to lack integrity to influence the outcome of a game. I even took an online survey which was lopsided in favor of Jeter faking.

We are no different spiritually, we follow Jeter's example and not Jesus example. As followers of Jesus we can offer excuses or justify disobedience or other followers even encourage us to "take a base." some excuses include, "its okay, I only do it when, everybody sins, what happens here stays in here." Certainly we do have spiritual blind spots at times and we need God’s grace extended but are there known sinful areas that sacrifice being all Jesus is calling us to be?

Interesting also that the Yankees lost the game. As followers we think we are getting ahead momentarily or winning but in the long run we are losing the "game."
God is calling us to examine ourselves and seek long term right standing with Him.

On Wednesday God presented me the opportunity to confess internal emotions I had towards our national office concerning organizational changes that impacted a spiritual mentor. My heart was not right before God, I wanted the spiritual weight off my back. Forgiveness was granted. God does not want us to fake it and take a base, He wants us to obediently keep swinging and trust Him for yielded fruit.

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,but the way of the wicked will perish.

Make it a great day!
Coach C