“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” — 2 Peter 3:18

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NFL players have a busy schedule during the season. They practice several times a week, study the playbook, attend team meetings, lift weights, make media appearances, do charity work, and study film to scout opponents and see how they may improve individually. Professional athletes may also be expected to keep an active social media presence and be accessible to fans.

It’s not easy for active athletes to find time for family, friends and faith, but many experience regret later in their lives if they don’t take time for personal renewal and growth. Many young men see their lives spin out of control, then wake up one day and wonder what happened.

In the Bible, Moses was calm in many high-pressure, public settings, and stood strong as an outstanding leader for the Israelites for 40 years. As most of the Israelites panicked, insulted Moses and doubted God, Moses kept his cool and helped his countrymen settle down at the edge of the deep Red Sea even though Pharoah and his army were breathing down their neck. “Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still'” (Exodus 14:13-14).

It’s helpful to look at the background of Moses and see how God met with him one on one at the burning bush. Before God spoke directly with him, Moses knew what his parents had told him about the Lord, and he knew God worked wonders in the past with his ancestors, but something changed when Moses heard God’s voice and watched Him do mighty miracles in front of him. “Then he said, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God” (Exodus 3:6). Suddenly, Moses believed God could do the same for him and his generation that he did in years past.

Just as God met privately with Abraham before He worked in and through his life, God would also produce great works and deeds through Moses. On several occasions, Moses went up on the mountain to meet with God alone — and that was one of main reasons he did well in a crowd.

We need to make our personal relationship with God more important than our public performances.

When we travel life’s road, we may face many temptations and difficulties that hinder our progress, so it’s a necessity to keep on spending regular time alone with God to be filled with wisdom and to be refreshed. Burnout is a real problem and the devil is always trying to pull God’s servants into sin.

Like Moses, if we want to please the Lord and be a good example for others, we need to keep on meeting with and growing in Christ daily. As Peter reminds us, we shouldn’t be satisfied with our current state, but always growing. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 3:18). Then Paul echoed his thoughts by encouraging us to study the Bible for a lifetime because God uses it to grow us throughout our lives: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia

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