In early 2014, the attention of the world turned to Sochi, Russia, where Olympic athletes pursued their lifelong quests. Our family loves the Summer and Winter Games—the global pageantry, the athletes’ grit and fight, the goodwill expressed among countries.
Our favorite moments are the individual athlete stories. From the Olympic Trials through the 2 weeks of the Games, we hear tales of athletes who spent years training, who overcame hardship, who became (over years of persistent devotion to their sport) women and men prepared to represent their homeland and compete on the world stage. Hearing the Olympians’ stories, I’m struck by the way so many of them are compelled by the joys of competition, love for their sport, and hope for the glory of a medal.
In Scripture, God called His people to a lifelong obedience—a dogged faithfulness of commitment to God’s ways. Moses challenged Israel to “carefully keep all his commands” (Deuteronomy 28:1). God provided these instructions as guides for life. They weren’t fickle whims, but a holistic pattern of living and being.
Yet there was much joy and promise accompanying these commands. For in keeping them, Moses reminded Israel, “you will experience all these blessings” (Deuteronomy 28:2): Their cities would be blessed (Deuteronomy 28:3). Their families and farms would be blessed (Deuteronomy 28:4). They would know abundance (Deuteronomy 28:5). And to make sure God was clear about the extent of the promised joy to come, Moses concluded with a flourish: “Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed” (Deuteronomy 28:6).
A life of enduring, persistent faithfulness to God requires much and is often difficult. But the path leads to eventual and eternal joy.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 23:23–24:27
More:
Read the rest of Deuteronomy 28:1-60. How did Moses continue to describe the good that would come from their obedience? What kind of sorrow comes from disobedience?
Next:
Where in your life do you struggle most with faithfulness to God and the life He’s provided for you? How might joy come as a fruit of saying “yes” to God?
BearPair on November 13, 2014 at 1:10 am
This is excellent Winn! I’m sure the athletes don’t see much fun and joy, to say nothing of the blessing of actually winning a medal, during those hard, daily hours of training & “obedience” to their coaches. In retrospect, what God requires of us is barely comparable to the intensity they face, and yet, what indescribable joy & blessing is–and will be–ours!
Winn Collier on November 13, 2014 at 10:34 am
It’s a good thing that the joy that pulls us through the pain, huh?
Tom Felten on November 13, 2014 at 10:39 am
Having had the opportunity to interview some top athletes over the years, a description that comes to mind as I think about them is “radically committed.” They’re passionate about the pursuit of excellence, of being the best they can be in their sport. May we experience a passionate pursuit of God—desiring above all else to obey and follow His ways.
Winn Collier on November 13, 2014 at 8:51 pm
yeah, Tom, the commitment is tenacious. It’s a challenge to us all.
sercher on November 13, 2014 at 1:54 pm
We know that we’ve been gifted our salvation by God. But life of a Christian is far from being fulfilled at the actual moment of accepting Christ. We are not to think we’ve attained the ultimate goal- Heaven. There’s a long road to walk or “run” as Apostle Paul put it in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27:
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.