Every now and again it is awesome when God reminds us of some of His simple truths.

I took a trip on Friday with my lead pastor and the man who discipled me, to share the ministry of discipleship with a church in the Kenton Ohio area.  As we were traveling to our appointment, we had many good discussions.  One of the topics mentioned was the concept of giving away the things God has given to us.

Typically in this tangible world, as we give our things away, it leaves less for us.  However, when it comes to the good news of Christ, it is not like this at all.  The Bible tells us that God specifically gives us insight into His word and comforts us in our times of need so that we will share these things with others.  (2 Timothy 2:2, 2 Corinthians 1:1-4)  Are we sharing what we have been given?  Or are we like the selfish two year old; who, though he has no intention of playing with a certain toy, still refuses to share it with others?

As we give His love and truth away, it will spread just as He intended it to from the beginning.  Let’s give it away!

I have an interesting exercise for all of you that use facebook.  Go to your profile and look at your last twenty profile status updates.  After doing this, categorize them as positive or negative.

Do you like what you see?  What do these statements reveal about you?

After you’re done, comment here on what you discovered.

What a tragedy!  The National Championship – the entire reason Colt McCoy opted out of the NFL draft and came back to play for Texas this year, and what happens?  Out…  unable to play due to an injury sustained in the first quarter.  No chance of return to lead his team in the most important game of his career.

That is not all – when interviewed at the end of the game, after choking down the tears and regaining the ability to speak, here are excerpts taken from what he said:  “I would have given everything I had to be out there with my team.”  “I always give God the glory, I never question why things happen the way they do.  God is in control of my life and I know that if nothing else, I am standing on the Rock.”  I must say that I was impressed with his comments at the end of the game and the sportsmanship he demonstrated in congratulating Alabama’s football team twice; especially after the heart-break of being sidelined.

There is just something wrong with a team losing its most valuable player.  McCoy said that he would have given “everything I had to be out there with my team”.  Is this our attitude?  It amazes me at how people can be content merely standing on the sidelines while their team, in need of help, is desperately trying to make a fourth quarter come back.  I am baffled by the number of people who can rationalize their need to be on the sideline, always finding a reason for their actions.

It is time to get in the game!  The time is short and the clock is ticking!  To take a page out of Paul’s playbook:  “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 3:13-14)  Praise God, His mercies are new every morning – we can forget our failures and defeats last season.  Today is a new day – another fresh opportunity to follow our Coach (the Lord Jesus Christ) and, in His strength, bring home a win!