5 Mar, 2010

Trophies and Medals

To one little boy in Indiana, a trophy given to him on a cold Saturday morning after a basketball game was as valuable as a Gold Medal at the Olympics.  As we drove to a local church where our son, Caleb, was playing his last game of the season, he began to look forward to playing again next year.  Then he proceeded to tell me that he was going to play every year until he was too old for this particular league.  Not so much because he loves basketball that much, although he does like it a lot.  His main motivation ... the Trophy!  Which every player gets just for participating!

Philippians 3:14 (NIV)

14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

What Does God's Story Say About Going for the Prize?

We should not let anything take our eyes of the goal of our relationship with Jesus.  That goal, that prize, is to know Jesus and to become like him.  It's not to DO more things for him, although that comes from knowing more.  We should also be deteremined, that this journey with Jesus isn't just something we are checking out.  We should keep going after that prize, year after year after year.  It is a life-long journery of ABIDING afterall!

Connecting My Story To God's Story

  • What is taking your eyes off of the prize?  Ask God to be your strength in removing those obstacles.
  • Are you "just checking out" this relationship with Jesus stuff?  Make a commitment to follow him all the days of your life today!
  • Just as athletes have to train to go for the gold, we too must train ourselves in a lifestyle of becoming more like Jesus.  Read Hebrews 12 this weekend for a great start on a training plan.

Connecting Today's Story, My Story and God's Story With Others

Do you know someone who has taken their eyes off of the prize? 

  • Pray for them today.
  • Get in touch with them and give them some encouragement this weekend. 
  • Ask them how you can help them regain their focus on Jesus.
Comments

Ornament

The Daily Bide is brought to you by a team of writers from Youth for Christ/USA. The writers all have various years of experience in youth ministry but share a common bond in serving Jesus and discovering what it means to abide deeply everyday and to connect God's Story with those around them. A number of the Daily Bide writers have also written portions of our 3Story® resources. You can check out our resources at the 3Story.org website or connect with our writers at 3story@yfc.net. If you have a question or a story you would like to share, please reference the Daily Bide date in your email.

YFC works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.