PURSUE God’s Will

READY

“But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” -- James 1:22

SET

Dr. Martin Luther King once said, “Life’s most persistent question and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” I imagine this statement must have played a key role in Dr. King’s life, as he was a voice for those whose rights were being denied. Dr. King grew up under the influence of a father who was a preacher with a sixth-grade education and a mother who was a college-educated teacher.

He leveraged the educational opportunities he had growing up as the son of a preacher and a teacher to impact his community and his country. While there were many challenges during his life, Dr. King showed that he was not just a hearer of the Word but a doer of the Word. He allowed the call on his life and the message of the Gospel to propel him forward in a movement of actions towards nonviolent protests and pursuits of equality for all people, especially those in the Segregated South during the ’50s and the ’60s. He proved he was a doer of the Word!

I remember the day I received a call from a parent whose daughter played on my oldest daughter’s, Shelby’s, travel soccer team. She had no idea what I had been struggling with prior to the call. My internal struggle then was the time I was spending on the sidelines of a soccer field rather than in the sanctuary of my church on Sundays. But, during that call, she asked me if I would pray with the girls before each game and give a short devotional.

I was caught off guard at first but then realized perhaps this was God answering the inner struggle I was having and providing me an opportunity to “walk the talk” in a very practical way. After praying about it, I followed the Holy Spirit’s lead and said yes. That was an amazing year as I watched not only the girls respond to the Word of God, but I witnessed the parents do so as well. God has given me so many opportunities since then to answer the question “What are you doing for others?”

As a coach’s wife, I understand a coach’s job hinges on success in the win column. I have witnessed firsthand the countless hours coaches and athletes put in for the success of their teams. But what always catches my attention is how the coach lives his or her life and what they do with the opportunity they are given to impact the lives of their athletes not only on the field but most importantly off the field.

GO

• How are you leveraging your opportunities as a coach or athlete in a way that reveals your Christian faith to your players or teammates?
• Who is God asking you to serve today?
• Dr. King made many sacrifices in his life for others, even to the point of death. What sacrifice of time, talent, or treasure is the Lord asking you to make this week?

WORKOUT

James 1:23-27; John 13:17; Matthew 12:50; 1 John 2:5

OVERTIME

“Dear Lord, teach me to be a doer of the Word and not to stray from it. Strengthen me, daily, to obey Your commands, and by Your grace be effective and faithful in whatever task You give me. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Darlene Johnson