Get Ready, Get Set, Listen

2 Timothy 2:1-10

Verse 5  Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.

    We continue with our discussing the importance of listening.  We go from looking at how a soldier needs to listen to the need for listening as an athlete.

    Most sports have a coach.  These men and women are not given the title just for the sake of having a title.  In most cases they have played the particular sport and in some cases they have trained for the position by understanding the rules and special plays that will be needed for a winning season.  The coach is there to help each member gain the needed techniques that will take them the furthest in their sport.  But only if the athlete listens.

    Listening is so important if the athlete wants to be all that they can be in their sport.  They need to listen about the amount of time that they need to practice, dietary things that would aid in their physical fitness, and even learning about teamwork.  Few sports are solo sports and so if only one or two of the athletes are listening to the coach things will go downhill fast.

    This is the same way it should be in the community of faith.  We need to remember that we are a team and listen to our coach (God) if we are going to be accomplishing what we say we are wanting to  For the Church to become what we need to be, we need to attentively listen to God and His Word.  He has things He wants us to know that will help us be the team He wants us to be.  But it takes more than just hearing what He is saying.  To truly listen, we need to put what we are told to do into action.

    It would also become an issue if the coach only tried to help one of the members improve in skills and ability.  Thankfully God isn’t just focusing on one of us.  He has a great desire to see each of us improve in the life of faith.  He has put some game plans in place for us to follow so that we can be at our best, but that doesn’t work if we are the team member who is too busy thinking that we already know enough to be the best on the team to listen to what we are being told.  God doesn’t want a team of people who think that they know everything there is to know and therefore don’t need to listen for further direction.  If we are wanting to be the team members that we are called to be, we need to listen to the guidance of our Father.  We all need to listen and work as the team He has put together to accomplish what He is wanting us to accomplish.

Making It Personal

    Are you a team player?  How important is it to you to listen to God and obey His words?  Do you have a problem listening because you think you know all there is to know about being a Christian?

Making It Personal Kids

    What does it mean to listen and obey?  What happens when you don’t listen?  Should you be listening to what God says?

Closing Prayer

    Father, thank You for wanting us on Your team.  Please help us to listen and obey what You tell us to do so that we can be living as You want us to live.  In Jesus’ name, amen.