March Madness is awesome. It’s one of the greatest sports
tournaments. Every year we start out with over 300 Division 1 basketball teams
and in a couple of weeks we will be down to 32 then 16 then 8 then 4 then 2 and
eventually a champion. It’s a fierce battle and often the most talented team
doesn’t win. Anyone in sports knows it’s not always the most talented team that
wins the championship.
A couple of years ago the NBA flipped when LeBron James, Dewayne
Wade and Chris Bosh came together as a team, but this didn’t mean
championships. You had three elite basketball players and two role players
starting. There were major growing pains. In order for the team to win,
somebody couldn’t be the star. You had to sacrifice for the overall goal, to
win the championship.
Life requires sacrifice to accomplish goals. I absolutely
love my kids and my family. In order to have a family and four kids, Hailee had
to deal with four pregnancies. The ups and downs of morning sickness, all the
good and the bad pregnancy brings on. She made a huge sacrifice in order for us
to have the family we have today. I am extremely thankful for what she has
done.
As a Christian we have to look at what is our purpose daily.
Here are three different versions of the same verse, Ephesians 1:11.
In him we were also chosen having been
predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conform.
NIV
Furthermore, because we are united with
Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance,
and he makes everything work out according to his plan. NLT
It’s in Christ that we find out who we
are and what we are living for. The Message
We has a special meaning in this verse. It’s pretty distinct
from a general we. This goes into the fact that now both Jews and Gentiles are
untied through God’s blessings in Jesus. The word chosen in the NIV is a Greek
word eklerothemen. This means to cast a lot or appoint or obtain by lot
according to the Bible Knowledge
Commentary. One cool thing, it’s the only time the word is used in the New
Testament. Some people thought because they came from a faith background they
were better set with God, this isn’t the case. God’s love was not for one group
of people, it was for everyone, those who came from a faith background and
those who did not.
Being in Christ allows us to be free and to have a greater
purpose. I was angry and depressed even though I didn’t show it before having
faith. I had trouble forgiving some of the people that treated me wrong.
Through Christ, I am forgiven and I have the ability to forgive others. I can
join with others in sharing this message. Every week I join together doing
Campus Life with people from Assembly’s of God, Non-Denominational and Wesleyan
Churches to reach people and teach about Jesus. We all come from different
backgrounds but unite for one common goal and purpose, to share Jesus.
In order for a team to win they have to sacrifice. I am
looking forward to this tournament and what could happen. I am extremely thankful
for the sacrifice my wife made so we can have the family we have today. I also
look forward to uniting with my fellow believers in Christ for the purpose of
reaching more people for Christ. When you look at your life, what is your goal?
What is your purpose? Maybe you need to change in order to move forward with
where you feel your life is going.
