“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless…” 2 Peter 3:14
On September 19, 1985, the Chicago Bears played at the Minnesota Vikings in a Thursday night football game.
The Bears offense was struggling until half-time when Coach Mike Ditka changed quarterbacks and brought in Jim McMahon in the second half. In his first series of plays, he called for a play-action pass.
He faked a hand-off to Walter Payton (“Sweetness”) and dropped back to pass. As he was searching for a receiver, a Minnesota linebacker came charging through a gap in the pocket, intent on sacking McMahon.
“Sweetness” promptly moved into position and stuck the linebacker with a bone-jarring block.
McMahon then arced a long high spiral to a wide open Willie Gault for a 70-yard touch- down. The score electrified the Bear offense and they went on to win the game 33-24.
Are you a slacker when it comes to applying God’s Word to your life? Or are you diligent (prompt) to put into practice what you have learned, whatever comes your way?
Paul says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
“Sweetness” strove to be diligent, on and off the field. And so can we.
This devotion was taken from the Summer 2011 edition of Training Table