Fair Captain Jesus - Day 62 Month 3-3 Week 9-6

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year)
Fair Captain Jesus

As a boy in school I was one of the more wimpy kids.  I wasn’t very strong, not particularly a fast runner and I was a C student.   All that to be said, I wasn't popular with the kids that were into sports and I wasn’t popular with the smart kids.  I was that kid - the one that when captains chose their teams, I’d be picked last.  In Grade 7 the vice principal was our gym teacher.  He was a real disciplinarian.  He always made us do difficult things and stretch our muscles beyond what was healthy.  No one really enjoyed themselves in his class because he was really hard on everyone.  His name was Mr. Cober.   I’m sure even his boss, the principal, Mr Painter, called him “sir" because no one wanted to cross him.  One day at gym class Mr. Cober stated, “Today you will be going for a run.  You will run south down Avenue Road,  left on Edgar Ave. ,  turn right on Pearson Ave. to Westwood Lane,  right and run up and down the hill on Westwood Lane, and Turn right on Denham Drive.  Run back to Avenue Road to the school.”  The distance was 3.6 km or 2.237 mi (If you don’t believe me, map it out on google.   That’s what I did).
  
I started at a steady pace.  All the kids who were in sports ran at a really fast pace and then had to stop to catch their breath as I passed by.  I arrived back at the school first in 13 minutes and 42 seconds.  Word got around the school almost instantly and from then on, I was either the captain choosing teams (leaving the wimpy boys till last), or was chosen 1st or 2nd.  Yup!  Kids are pretty shallow at times- including me!

In our reading in Mark 9, the disciples are talking amongst themselves as they journey to Capernaum.  They are discussing which one is the greatest.  Jesus knows what they are discussing and calls them on it.  His statement is “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”  I’ve read Jesus’ kingdom is referred to as “the upside-down kingdom.”  The playing field is levelled because the person with nothing and the person with everything is equal and the real difference is whether a person has accepted Jesus' call on their life to follow him.   I’m thankful that Jesus is a fair captain and He chooses His team through fairness as opposed to popularity or their standing in life.

When I am in one of those places in life where I put myself on a pedestal and start living my life as if I’m in charge and leaving God to an afterthought, it’s seldom an easy time.  More often than not, I’ll realize what I have done and turn back to God.  Sometimes it takes a long time but when I do, I need a spiritual cleanse!

King David sinned greatly against God by lusting after someone else's wife when her husband was at war, sleeping with her and getting her pregnant.  To cover her pregnancy, he calls her husband back from war but her husband, Uriah, refuses to sleep with her because his duty was to war and would not enjoy intimacy until he would return.  David, would have avoided this sin if he had been at war with his army which was his rightful place.  In anger, he sent Uriah back to war on the front lines so he would be killed.  He died and David thought his sin was hidden.  Nathan the prophet came to call him on it.  David realized his sin and cried out to God.  

In a time of repentance, as we read in Psalm 51, David asked God to “Create in me a clean heart, O God,  And renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.”  That is my prayer as well.  Just like when I was a child and treated other kids unfairly, I still sin against God.  Yet, I am so grateful that when I acknowledge my wrongdoing, God is always there to welcome me back.

Have a great day!
Steve

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