Procuring Your Walk
Showing Up for Practice
by David Jeremiah

(Excerpt from the February, 2006 issue of Turning Points Magazine & Devotional)

Today's athletes consider their sport a full-time occupation. If training camp begins in August, they spend the summer training for training camp. If they don't perform in training camp, they might not make the team.

What used to be the off-season is now a time when athletes just do different things in pursuit of the same goal: winning. Their sport is a year-round process of preparation in anticipation of a few actual moments of competition.

The Christian life is also continual preparation in anticipation of daily "performance" -being called on to do what we've been preparing for-to share our faith, to comfort a friend, to offer counsel to a family member, to lead a Bible study, to serve on a committee, to join a prayer team, to help lead a short-term missions trip . . . or make an infinite number of other "plays" as a member of Christ's team.

Everything we do-times of service for Christ and informal training we continue in the "off-season" are all part of the long view we develop as Christians: If we're not training every day to be more effective servants of Christ, we're going to find ourselves on the sidelines due to ineffectiveness.

Procuring by Preparation
Athletes can't afford to let their body or skills atrophy. The competition is so fierce today that there's always someone waiting to take their position on their team or in their sport. In other words, they are continually procuring their position by preparation.

Should Christians have any less an attitude of commitment? How can we go about procuring a proactive faith on a daily basis-with the long view in mind?

Cross-Training
Participating in a wide variety of different sports and training regimens helps relieve boredom, develop new reflexes, acquire new skills, and awaken new muscle groups not normally called upon.

Followers of Christ can apply the concept of cross-training to the development of a proactive faith. Let's say that your regular regimen of training involves daily Bible study and prayer, weekly worship, family devotions, and perhaps participation in a small group or Sunday school community. Excellent-keep it up! You're staying strong in the fundamentals of the faith, ready to serve when the "Coach" calls your name.

Broaden your spiritual skills, awaken new spiritual muscles, and develop new spiritual reflexes. Here are some ideas to consider:

1. Reading Read six new Christian books this year. Consider a biography of a Christian leader or missionary. (2 Timothy 4:13)

2. Conferencing If you live in or near a major metropolitan area, you'll have access to numerous Christian conferences and seminars during the year: marriage, evangelism, business, missions, and others. (Acts 15)

3. Journeying Consider a short-term, overseas ministry trip. Or sign up for a weekend or one-week service trip to another city or state: disaster relief, service to the needy, inner-city ministry. Pack a bag and see what God is doing beyond your borders. (Romans 1:9-12)

4. Schooling The Internet, community college, Bible colleges and seminaries, local church training institutes-opportunities for continuing education are limited only by your imagination and willingness to learn. Pick something you've always wanted to learn and get educated for the glory of God! (Acts 19:9)

5. Discipling You could lead a back-yard Bible club this summer, be a tutor at a local elementary school, lead a Bible study in a jail or prison, or be a "big brother" or "sister" to a young person who needs a helping hand. Nothing helps solidify what you know and believe more than teaching it to someone else. (2 Timothy 2:2)

6. Listening Turn off the talk radio in the car this year and listen your way to pro-activity. Explore a new branch of Christian music to which you may be underexposed (traditional hymns, classical, or gospel). Or listen to as many audio books as your drive time allows. (Ephesians 5:19)

It's true-practice makes perfect. But not if you don't practice! Keep up your daily fundamentals, but choose one or more of the above "Cross-training" options to help you procure, and preserve, your position as a proactive starter in God's kingdom.

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Monday, September 01, 2008