CBC Worship Ministries: Devotional Blog

I have been fascinated with the Olympics this year. So far it has been an exciting competition. Nastia, Shawn, Michael. . . among others, who have provided thrills that have been, in many cases, edge-of-your-seat spectacular. What we witness, often in a matter of seconds, is the result of thousands of hours of training, practice and competition. I remember when Holly was actively involved in gymnastics. Just about every other evening and Saturday mornings she'd be at the gym, working on her skills. There were hours upon hours of practices. There were hundreds and hundreds of repetitions. And constant competition to put the skills to the test.

What we get to see, when we watch our USA team compete, is just the tip of the iceberg.

Ask the athletes. Talent is important, of course. Body type is critical in many cases. But without practice, without pushing oneself to the limit, those athletes would never have gotten to the point that they are at.

When I was a school administrator I would often tell my staff that children will gravitate to the lowest level of expectation, every time. That goes for behavior, studies, school work, homework, and just about anything else. I sometimes think that those who are involved in ministries often adopt that same philosophy. They'll do just what's necessary to get by.

We need to learn a lesson from our Olympic athletes. We need to strive to be the best. We need to devote ourselves to whatever task God has laid out for us. What does that mean for those of us in worship ministries? It means that we need to take seriously our preparation for leading worship - whether it's getting to practice on time, or working out a part at home, or being sharp and ready to go on Sunday morning. We want to make Sunday look "easy". We do that when we are thoroughly prepared, thoroughly alert, and ready to meet the challenge of leading others to an encounter with the living God.

We're coming to the end of the summer. Now's a great time to think about making a new commitment this coming fall to being the very best that God wants you to be. Together, let's go for the gold. . . and make a difference for Jesus Christ!