The Athlete's Challenge: Old Testament HeroesSample

Devotional:

Ready:

"Then the servant ran to meet her and said, 'Please let me have a little water from your jug.'

She replied, 'Drink, my lord.' She quickly lowered her jug to her hand and gave him a drink. When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, 'I’ll also draw water for your camels until they have had enough to drink.'” -- Genesis 24:17-19, CSB

Set:

Becky was the best player on her team. Everyone wanted to play like Becky. She was a hard worker, but there was more to her than what people could see. On a road trip, the last freshman selected for the team that year broke her foot during the practice before a game. When they arrived at the hotel that night, Becky carried her teammate's bags to her room and asked her to stay with her. For the rest of the trip, Becky helped this underclassman with everything she needed.

Abraham was looking for the right woman for his son, Isaac. He sent a servant back to his homeland to find such a person. The servant prayed to find just the right woman and along came Rebekah. Not only did Rebekah give him a drink, but also she took care of his camels. Ten camels that could drink about 20 gallons apiece (about the average amount of Mountain Dew or Dr. Pepper most students drink in a day) would take about two hours to satisfy. This was the answer to the servant's prayer. Rebekah was the right one. Rebekah went the extra mile for this servant out of kindness, not duty. The "Rebekah Principle" is simple: go the extra mile for someone today. Help someone who could use a hand.

Becky continued to care for her young teammate all throughout the trip. Her other teammates could not understand why the top player would serve a freshman, but Becky did not mind. She understood that God calls us to serve, not to be served. Becky did not care what her teammates thought about what she was doing. She lived to serve God and knew that God would want her to help this teammate in need.

Are you applying the Rebekah Principle in your life today? Or are you applying minimal effort for a maximum return? God wants our ALL for nothing in return. If you apply the Rebekah Principle in your life, the return for your investment will have an eternal reward!

Go:

1. To whom do you need to apply the Rebekah Principle in your life?
2. Do you do minimal work in the hope of a maximum return?
3. Today, how can you serve God better by serving others?