“Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.” — Isaiah 50:7

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Every once in a while a coach comes across a player who has what our basketball program has labeled as the “it.” It is an intangible character quality that very few players have. It is a competitive edge. It is the combination of playing hard and playing to win. It is a dogged determination and persistence to play and not quit.

Around 20 years ago, I was coaching a youth league team at the local Boys and Girls Club. I discovered a player with the “it.” At 10 years old, this young player was not the biggest or most athletic player on the team. However, the “it” set him apart. He was focused. He was skilled.

The “it” was most memorable to me when I watched this young ball player get knocked to the ground, hand something to the referee, and continue dribbling the basketball up the court. The referee came by my sideline and handed me half of a front tooth. The young player was so focused on the task at hand, he couldn’t stop even if he wanted to. Eight years later, I was fortunate enough to have that player playing on our high school basketball team as an All-County and All-Conference player. The “it” had carried him through!

At a much greater and deeper level, a different kind of “it” motivated our Lord Jesus to “set His face like flint” like in Isaiah 50:7 (above) and march to the cross for us in the face of much greater physical and spiritual pain than a broken tooth. Jesus was determined to obtain something far greater than county and conference awards. He was on a mission from God to procure our salvation, and He did it!

Thanks be to God for the faithfulness and unwavering determination of His Son to die and rise again on our behalf as the undefeated champion over sin and death!

— Frick Frierson

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