Commitment

Romans 12:1, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship."

The weather hasn't turned cool yet, but we are very much aware that a special time of year has arrived. I am presently getting prepared to camp out for the next several hours and watch my team play its first football game of the 2011 season. The electricity of excitement ripples through the air like the crackle of lightning just before a storm. The stakes are high--bragging rights for the next year.

Lots of us will watch many hours of football before the season is over. Are there any principles from football that we can apply to our spiritual lives? Yes, there certainly are. The apostle Paul, a sports fan, made several analogies between athletic competitions and living as Christians, and our devotionals will center around these for the next several weeks.

Probably the most important lesson we learn from football is the necessity for commitment and dedication. It is the players who are willing to give 110% effort that we see on the playing field.

How many Christians do you see who are as intense about their commitment to Christ as college football players are to their coach and teammates? Do you think that Christians with that level of commitment would make a difference in the church? In the world at large? Would having that kind of commitment make a difference in your life?

Father, stoke the coals of our commitment to You and to Your kingdom so that our dedication burns brightly in a dark, evil world and people are drawn to Your light and Your love through us. Amen.