June 7, 2010, Acts 23

Key Verse:

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

(Acts 23:11)

Central Truth:

God expects much, but you are never in the ring alone.

COACH GOD

I love to watch sports that I cannot do, Olympic Gymnastics for instance. The athletes fly across the floor, bounce and twirl through the air with a summersault, land flat on their stomach only to bounce up and do a back flip. It is truly a gift.

Have you ever noticed who they look at before and after their routine? It is usually their coach. He stands with a kind look on his face and gives a strong fist pump to say, "You can do it." Regardless of whether the gymnast nails his routine or falls flat on his face, the first person he goes to afterwards is his coach.

I love the scene in Acts 23:11. I picture Paul in custody and God standing off a ways. (In a movie, He would be partially in the shadows.) Paul is probably sitting on his prison cot with his arms on his knees and his head hung low. God doesn’t tell him to take a break. He says good work, but you are not done yet. Today you defeated the Sanhedrin; tomorrow we take on the Romans!

The scene reminds me of Rocky. Rocky is beat to a pulp, sitting in his corner, bleeding, eyes swollen shut. He looks to his coach and says, “Mick I ain’t got no more. I can’t win; he’s too strong.” Mickey in his raspy little voice says, “You can do it Rock. You trained like a dog. We made you strong. This is your time kid. YOU'RE AN ANIMAL! This is what you waited your whole life for! Now get out there and KNOCK HIS BLOCK OFF!” Then the music starts. Rocky staggers to the center of the ring, takes the best his opponent can give, and with Mickey screaming from the ropes, summons his last bit of strenght and starts swinging.

God trains us to glorify Him. He puts us in situations where we will fail without Him. He gave us His best and He demands our best. Our faith in God’s unmatched power gets us through the match.

So, when you are bloodied, your eyes swollen shut, and your spiritual muscles are aching, hear God in your corner saying, “I made you strong, it's your time kid.” Then, get up, stagger to the center of the ring, and start swinging as hard as you can.