B-A-C
Loyal
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2008
- Messages
- 11,079
If you ask most basketball fans who the greatest player in the history of basketball was... they will usually say Michael Jordan.
Now as far as I know Michael Jordan isn't a Christian. I've never heard him mention Jesus or God or anything like that. Now I suppose it's
possible he is a Christian, but that isn't the point here. So then, what does Michael Jordan have to do with Grace?
Michael Jordan was considered the best basketball player by most basketball statisticians. But did Michael make all of his shots?
www.statmuse.com
No, on average over his career, he made about 50%. About half of them. But how many of those do you think he tried to miss on purpose?
Now admittedly, there are some special circumstances where you might try to miss. But usually you try to make the shot.
He made enough shots to accrue over 32,000 points in his career, that's a LOT of made shots.
Being a Christian is a little like this. You try to compete as best you can.
1Cor 9:24; Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
1Cor 9:25; Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
1Cor 9:26; Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;
1Cor 9:27; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Without practicing, self-control, and some discipline, you won't make very many of your shots. You need to play to win.
If you don't care about the shots, you grow negligent and apathetic. Before you know it, you aren't even in the game anymore.
We may not ever be able to completely stop sinning while we are alive in the fleshly body. But we need to try. We need to act like
sin matters to God ( because it does! ) We may not make all our shots, but we need to try. If we give up and act like sin doesn't matter...
Heb 10:26; For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27; but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.
Willful sin has consequences. Grace covers our stumbling and our misses. Thank God for grace and mercy. Without it, we are all in trouble.
You don't have to make all your shots... but you need to try. Grace doesn't cover willful sin.
Heb 12:1; Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Now as far as I know Michael Jordan isn't a Christian. I've never heard him mention Jesus or God or anything like that. Now I suppose it's
possible he is a Christian, but that isn't the point here. So then, what does Michael Jordan have to do with Grace?
Michael Jordan was considered the best basketball player by most basketball statisticians. But did Michael make all of his shots?
Michael Jordan Career Effective Field Goal Percentage | StatMuse
Michael Jordan had an eFG% of 50.9 in his career.
No, on average over his career, he made about 50%. About half of them. But how many of those do you think he tried to miss on purpose?
Now admittedly, there are some special circumstances where you might try to miss. But usually you try to make the shot.
He made enough shots to accrue over 32,000 points in his career, that's a LOT of made shots.
Being a Christian is a little like this. You try to compete as best you can.
1Cor 9:24; Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
1Cor 9:25; Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
1Cor 9:26; Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;
1Cor 9:27; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Without practicing, self-control, and some discipline, you won't make very many of your shots. You need to play to win.
If you don't care about the shots, you grow negligent and apathetic. Before you know it, you aren't even in the game anymore.
We may not ever be able to completely stop sinning while we are alive in the fleshly body. But we need to try. We need to act like
sin matters to God ( because it does! ) We may not make all our shots, but we need to try. If we give up and act like sin doesn't matter...
Heb 10:26; For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27; but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.
Willful sin has consequences. Grace covers our stumbling and our misses. Thank God for grace and mercy. Without it, we are all in trouble.
You don't have to make all your shots... but you need to try. Grace doesn't cover willful sin.
Heb 12:1; Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
