Monday
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48
Loving in Difficult Circumstances
It would have been easy for Tim Tebow to make cutting remarks or rant against the Denver Broncos front office personnel or coaches when they decided to trade him, but he didn’t.
In some people’s eyes Tebow would have had every right to do that. He was fresh off leading the Broncos to the playoffs after some heart-wrenching victories, and he helped them to a playoff victory against Pittsburgh. The Broncos had even promised to keep Tebow as the starter for next season, but they traded him to the New York Jets, who only offered the backup role.
Irritating. Disrespectful. Unfair. Those were some of the things people thought, and are some of the things we think when we are done wrong. But Jesus tells us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. In context, enemies back then were people who could have you put in prison or killed, so showing love to those people would have been even harder. But Christ told us to do it.
— Brett Honeycutt, Sports Spectrum
Tuesday
“…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:43-45
Servant’s Heart
Backup or starter, it doesn’t matter. Tim Tebow just wants to help. He just wants to be part of the team. He just wants to contribute in any way possible.
That’s the heart of a servant and should be the heart of anyone who is a Christian. As Jesus said in Mark 10, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” And He is a King. Not just any person.
If we are to imitate Christ, it will start with being a servant to others.
— Brett Honeycutt, Sports Spectrum
Wednesday
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” James 1:17-18
Gifted
Tim Tebow can play quarterback, fullback, wide receiver, tight end, and he can also block. He can probably do a lot of other things, too. But doing whatever his new coaches with the New York Jets wanted him to do was what he said he would do. Whether they use him a little or a lot, he is doing what they ask.
That’s similar to how God wants us to live our lives. Our talents, as little or as many as God has given us, are all to be used for Him, when He wants us to use them and where He wants us to use them.
Are the talents God has given to you being used for God’s glory, or for self glory? Or are those talents even being used at all?
Remember, since “every good and perfect gift comes from God” those gifts were meant for a purpose. And that purpose is to honor, glorify and please God.
— Brett Honeycutt, Sports Spectrum
Thursday
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9
God of Peace be With You
You can do a lot with eye blacks. You know, it’s what players wear underneath their eyes to help reduce glare.
Tim Tebow was known for his eye black because he would put references to Scripture on it as a form of witness. One of his favorite verses, according to his foundation’s website, to wear on the eye black was Philippians 4:8-9. It is a verse that his foundation bases its core values on: being truthful, noble, just, pure, lovely, virtuous and highly praised, and having good reports.
Are you seeking all of these traits that Paul mentions in his letter to the church in Philippi? If you do and you put them into practice, the Bible assures us that “the God of peace will be with you.”
— Brett Honeycutt, Sports Spectrum
Friday
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” Romans 1:16
Ashamed or Not?
One thing that Tim Tebow is well known for is his faith. He doesn’t hide the fact that he’s a Christian. He doesn’t shy away from it. He’s not embarrassed by it. He’s not ashamed.
It’s a trait that makes others, Christians and non-Christians, admire him even more because he is so bold. His love for Christ negates his fear of what others feel or think about him.
If you struggle with fear, you can ask for boldness from God. Even Paul, who seemed to have no problem with being bold in his faith, had to ask God for boldness (Ephesians 6:19, Philippians 1:20).
If you fear what others think of you because of your faith, remember that type of fear is not from God as II Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Remember that power, love and a sound mind run contrary to fear.
Ask for boldness and proclaim Christ’s goodness.
—Brett Honeycutt, Sports Spectrum
Weekender
“Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.” Proverbs 26:17
Going Long
Read Proverbs 26:17 and see how it contrasts with the beatitude that speaks of peacemakers in Matthew 5:9. Which one are you? Are you like the description in Proverbs 26:17 or Matthew 5:9? Ask God to help you become or continue to be a peacemaker.
