Ready:
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” – Matthew 5:8
Set:
It can be tempting to compartmentalize our life. When we do this, how we approach the sports part of our life can be very different than how we approach the spiritual part. Sometimes a coach or athlete can be one type of person when they’re in a Bible study and a very different type of person when they’re coaching or competing. They usually aren’t trying to be deceptive. They just see sports as being separate from the spiritual part of their life.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches about living under His reign as our King and the blessings of doing so. In Matthew 5:7, He says that blessings come to those who are “pure in heart.” In the Bible, the “heart” refers to the core of who we are. It’s not just our emotions. It also encompasses our mind and our will. To have a heart that is pure is to be characterized by the purity and holiness of Christ. Additionally, to be pure in heart means to have an undivided heart: a single-minded, sincere desire to live for King Jesus in every area of our life.
This includes how we approach our sport. We no longer view being a coach or athlete as separate from the spiritual “compartment” of our life. It’s all part of our single-minded pursuit of living for Jesus. To be pure in heart is to desire to honor Christ in how we think, speak and act while competing in the same way we would if we were in a Bible study. Jesus is King over all our life!
According to Jesus, as our hearts are undivided in seeking to live for Him, we receive the blessing of seeing God. That is, we’ll grow in knowing God in deeper ways, having greater closeness with Him, and experiencing His work in and through us—in all areas. Resolve to compete and live single-mindedly for the Lord today. As you do so, you’ll know the deep joy of seeing Him more and more!
Go:
In what ways have you been living with a compartmentalized view of your life?
How does the promise of seeing God more and more encourage you to approach life, including your sport, with an undivided heart?
Workout:
Overtime:
“Lord, I praise You because You rule over all. I pray that I would joyfully surrender to Your reign over every area of my life, including my sport. I desire to have an undivided heart for You. Thank You that You are present with me and transforming my heart so that I can live and compete for Your honor more and more. Amen.”