Winner! No, Cheater! - Day 288 Month 10-14 Week 40-1
Winner! No, Cheater!
1 Chronicles 29, Job 7, Hosea 11, 2 Timothy 2
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%2029%2C%20Job%207%2C%20Hosea%2011%2C%202%20Timothy%202&version=NASB1995
I remember it clearly. It was the 1988 Summer Olympics. I think most Canadians were sitting in front of their TVs, ready to watch the 100 metre dash. Ben Johnson lined up with all the other runners. He was ready. When the starter's pistol went off, he exploded off the line and ran across the finish line in a world record time of 9.79 seconds.
Three days later, Ben Johnson had tested positive for the anabolic steroid Stanozolol. Ben was stripped of his gold medal and world record. He had broken the rules. He had cheated. That day is stuck in my memory. Canada's running hero had cheated, and his victory was taken away.
The apostle Paul was mentoring a much younger Timothy and used the example of an athlete. “If anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Timothy 2:5 NASB1995). This is one of three illustrations Paul uses to describe the dedication required of someone serving in the gospel.
Over the last few weeks, I have been convicted in my heart by the Holy Spirit. As you, the reader, are likely aware, I tend to talk about “loving your neighbour as yourself” a lot. It is one of the two great commandments Jesus gave us. I believe I need to be ready to love my neighbours in practical ways, not just talk about it.
Jesus also commanded His followers to make disciples. That means helping people become and grow as Jesus followers. I believe these two things belong together. I want to love people because Jesus loves them, and I want to be willing to tell them about Him.
It is relatively easy to be the good guy. To be there when someone needs help. To treat them with respect and be a good neighbour. But sometimes I wonder whether I am willing to do the harder thing. Am I willing to talk about Jesus when the opportunity comes? Or am I more concerned about being liked than being honest about the One who has changed my life?
I don't want to use kindness as a way to get people to listen to me talk about Jesus.
Love should never be a transaction. But I also don't want to use being a good neighbour as an excuse to keep quiet about my faith.
I have a coworker who is a really nice guy. He comes across as rough and tough, and he has some anger issues. However, he is not a Jesus follower, but he would bend over backwards for anyone. He is forever offering to go to someone's house to help them out with something.
Another coworker needed to winterize her RV. Her husband had recently passed away, and he was usually the one who did that job. My coworker said, “Don't worry about it. I'll do it for you!”
Another coworker needed the brakes done on his car, and this guy said, “Bring it to my place. I'll do it for you.”
This is loving your neighbour as yourself. Here is the part that gets me. I may not be skilled at brake jobs, but I could easily have offered to winterize my coworker's RV. I didn't even consider it.
There I was, thinking about loving my neighbour, and someone else was actually doing it. I have something to learn from him.
So the first lesson for me is to be ready to love my neighbour in practical ways. Not just when it is convenient, not just when I happen to think of it, but when I see a need and have an opportunity to help.
The second lesson is that I don't want to hide the reason I follow Jesus. I don't need to bring Him into every conversation or turn every act of kindness into a witnessing opportunity. But when a conversation opens the door, I want to be willing to talk about Him. I want people to know that my love for them is shaped by the love Jesus has shown me.
Mentioning Jesus doesn't automatically make someone a disciple. But a conversation about Him might plant a seed, answer a question, or encourage someone to take another step toward knowing Him.
I think back to Ben Johnson. He crossed the finish line first, but he had broken the rules to get there. I don't want to be someone who talks about following Jesus but avoids the parts of that life that challenge me. I want my actions and my words to agree.
I want to love my neighbour as myself. I want to love God with all my heart, soul, and mind. I also want to be willing to help others discover Jesus, too. I don't want the fear of an uncomfortable conversation to stop me from sharing the most important part of my life.
Have a great day!
Steve
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