The Bicycle and the Bibleনমুনা

Build from the Base

Ready:

"So then, just as you have received Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude" --Colossians 2:6-7

Set:

It’s Saturday morning. Cyclists around the world gather at their group ride starting point. Arriving in vehicles containing their bicycles, pre-ride preparation, begun hours before, continues. Cyclists don gear and prepare bicycles. Other cyclists arrive on their bicycles. Checklist items are completed. Car doors and hatches are closed and locked. Conversations, ranging from serious life issues to “trash talk,” build.

On such a recent outing, I rode my bicycle from home to the starting point. By the time I arrived, the banter was well underway, as one of the stronger, more outspoken cyclists had already begun chattering. He had enjoyed a few rides during the week, was primed to have a great day on the bike and was even more primed to let everyone know. Eyes rolled, and verbal sparring continued as “Trash Talker” stirred the pot.

He turned his satire to nutrition, training and in-ride data monitoring. Trash Talker poked fun at more disciplined cyclists. He said, “I don’t need to worry about any of that stuff. I can eat a T-bone steak immediately before a ride and still outperform y’all. I don’t worry about cadence, heart rate, power or any of the in-ride data y’all obsess over.” We all laughed. We all knew he doesn't worry about any of it. He just rides his bicycle, and he is pretty good at it.

After a calm twenty-mile ride to the rest stop, four of us, including Trash Talker, decided to return to the starting point. As we increased the pace, Trash Talker struggled and was dropped several times. Each time, the cyclist on the third wheel would sacrifice, drop back, bridge the gap with a huge effort, and haul Trash Talker back to the group. I pondered his pre-ride boasts and wondered if he could have held pace if he focused on the more disciplined cyclists he ridiculed earlier and considered unimportant.

In the NLT, Colossians 2:6 begins, “And now.” Other translations, such as the ESV, begin with, “So, then.” Paul concludes the opening argument of the letter by coaching believers in Colossae to “continue to follow him . . . just as you accepted [him] as your Lord.” Follow Jesus—nothing else. Add no other concepts, even if they sound reasonable. In other words, “Focus.” Focus only on Him. Learn only from Him. How? By reading and meditating on Scripture (John 1:1-5, 14; 2 Peter 1:3-11). Build the base. Then, monitor life, apply lessons learned, and adjust where necessary.

Jesus is the base from which we can develop deep-rooted growth (Colossians 2:7a). Like having faith in, focusing on, and adjusting to in-ride data as we ride, we have faith in (2.7c), focus on, and adjust to His truth through Scripture as we enjoy the well-built, well-analyzed life He provides (2:7b). Even when life picks up the pace and threatens to drop us, He has already expended the huge effort on the cross to lovingly bring us back to Him. The results: an overflow of thankfulness (2:7d).

Go:

1. How does your life reflect the importance you place on Scripture?
2. Jesus provides and sustains your life. He is the base. How can you rely upon Scripture to improve your understanding of Him and the way you monitor and adjust?
3. Have you ever been "dropped" by life? How did God work to bring you back to Him? Journal those experiences. Be ready to share with others how life has dropped, thereby allowing Him to bring them back to Him.

Workout

Colossians 1-2; 2 Peter 1:3-11; John 1

Overtime:

Father, thank you for being the base for our lives. Thank you for giving us Your Word, on which we can rely when we are riding strong and when we are struggling. We recognize we will never be completely dropped as you have already paid the price to keep us in your group. Thank you for saving us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.