“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)

In the 2017 MLB draft, 1,215 players were chosen by 30 Major League organizations. With only 25 spots on each Major League team each year, every one of these players hopes to be one of the top 750 players in the world who make it. The numbers aren’t in favor, but that doesn’t stop them from pursuing their dreams.

Being one of those young men many years ago, I remember my teammates and I talking about how we would love to just be on the bench in the big leagues. When I was finally called up in 1991, I remember after about a week of not playing I wasn’t happy about just being in the Major Leagues. I wanted to get out on the field to compete and show the talent that got me there in the first place.

Many followers of Christ are missing out on what God has of them because they choose to sit on the bench instead of putting themselves in the game to compete for eternal blessings that are in Christ. To compete for Christ, we first need to look within and find out what hinders us from following Him. Then we need to direct our focus on Christ so we won’t be exhausted as we persevere in the life He’s set before us.

My prayer is that we continue to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-3).

Coaches and spouses, what things are you doing in your spiritual walk that helps you compete for Christ everyday? Let us know on the OneCoach Facebook page or on twitter @_OneCoach_.

– Eddie Taubensee, Former MLB Catcher for 11 seasons, Director of Baseball Ministries for The Increase and hitting coach in the San Francisco Giants organization.

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