“If you would just be serious with your work ethic, you would see results!” Did you ever hear that from your dad or coach? Moms tend to be a bit gentler with, “You have great potential if you would just apply yourself.” Both are admonitions to tune-in to what you need to do and to do it.
Aspiring athletes have to be serious about their physical and mental discipline to get results. In this, the final week of the Pentecost challenge, Peter, John and Jude put a lot of emphasis on being serious as believers, staying alert and being discerning. The charge is to be serious about your faith in order to know what is of God and what is not.
… with your minds ready for action, be serious and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. … do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. Be holy, because I am holy. – 1Peter 1:13-14, 16. This is the wrap on the Pentecost challenge! What a journey it has been! This week we made it through Peter’s epistles, John’s three letters and Jude’s letter. The charge from Peter is to be serious, to grow up in the faith setting your hope on the grace introduced at the revelation of Jesus the Christ. Rebuke the tendency to succumb to the desires of your former ignorance. Be spiritually disciplined and be holy! In verse 2:5 he adds, you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house. Step up to disciple all in your house. Peter speaks more of the discipline needed in these times – Husbands … live with your wives with an understanding of their weaker nature yet showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life (1Pet.3:7). The closest thing to our relationship with Christ on this earth is our relationship in marriage. The kids are watching; Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him and be firm in the faith (4:8-9). There is no time to be complacent. Stay alert physically, emotionally and spiritually. John writes, God’s word remains in you, and you have had victory over the evil one. Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world (1Jn.2:14-15). And Jude closes with, contend for the faith … build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit (Jude 3&20). Be alert to the devil’s schemes and be serious in the power of the resurrected Christ and indwelling of the Holy Spirit to rebuke him.
Many talented young athletes are not able to make the transition to the collegiate level because of the work ethic and discipline required. Similarly, many church goers struggle to make the transition to a mature faith that recognizes evil and rebukes it at first glance. Be alert to the devil’s schemes and pull the sword of the Spirit out of its sheath – the word of God, to rebuke him. Congratulations on completing the Pentecost challenge. Embrace the final charge to Be Serious in your relationship with Jesus the Christ and lead your family spiritually by example.
Prayer guide: Father, thank You for Your word through this time leading up to Pentecost. I confess I have not been serious about my relationship with Jesus nor have I been alert to the relationship I entertain through the devil’s schemes. Forgive me. I commit to be serious in my relationship with You. Keep me alert to evil that distracts and deceives. Grant me strength to rebuke him and to lead my family spiritually by example. That is the dad You call me to be, and that is the dad my kids need to see. Amen.
A faithful father is serious about living and leading in relationship with Jesus the Christ.
