Note to Parents: In this devotion, you will need access to the Internet to read a story and watch a YouTube video. Please note with the video that I selected this version for its video quality and words which I felt would help children understand what was happening. I am not affiliated in any way with the group who posted the video.
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August's Family Devotion: Olympic Spirit
Introduction: With the whole world watching, thousands of athletes are competing
in the Olympics in London this month. It
is an elite group of talented men and women who have trained hard for this
special honor. Most of us will never be
an Olympian, but did you know God has called us to run in an even greater
race? God wants us, all of his children,
to race toward heaven. For some the race
will be long, it took Moses 127 years! For
some it will be a short race, but God cares only about the outcome.
The apostle Paul wrote to his young friend Timothy toward the end
of his life:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished
the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that
day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4: 7-8
God wants us to choose to race for Him, to race for heaven, where
our prize will be eternal life with him.
As we watch the Olympics, there is a lot we can learn about
how to run our own race of life and help others with theirs. We are going to look at two things all
successful athletes need, and see how we can apply them to own life.
1.
All Athletes Need Training
All great athletes train hard to succeed in the sport of their choice. Hours and hours are put into training. It strengthens us. It improves our understanding of our
sport. It prepares us to succeed.
·
Discuss as a family ways that you train for
sports in which your family is involved.
God has set for us the race toward eternal life. As Christians we know that we cannot gain
eternal life through our work or efforts.
Jesus paid the price for our salvation.
But God does want us to train to learn how to live for Him during our
time on earth. God tells us through His Holy Word that studying
scripture is an important part of our life training as Christians. God wants us to regularly study his word and
increase our knowledge and understanding of how God wants us to live.
My son, do
not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will
prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. - Proverbs
3:1
Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to
the end. Give me understanding, and I
will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for
there I find delight. Turn my heart
toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. - Psalm 119:33-36
Hear, O Israel: The Lord
our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord
your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
strength. These commandments that I give
you today are to be upon your hearts.
Impress them on your children.
Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road,
when you lie down and when you get up.
Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes. - Duet 6:4-8
This last passage of Scripture follows the Ten Commandments. God wants his people to think and talk about
these commandments in all parts of our lives. Part of training as a Christian is to learn
these commandments and apply them to how we live. These are ten ways that God is telling us to
live our life. They are not always easy to follow.
The fourth commandment says “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it
holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you.”
In the 1924 Olympics a Scottish runner by the name of Eric Liddel had a
difficult choice to make. He loved the
Lord and wanted to honor Him, but the race he was hoping to win was scheduled
for Sunday. What could Eric do? This race was actually just the beginning of
a big plan God had for Eric’s life. Read
about his life here:
Discussion Questions:
·
At the 1924 Olympic games Eric Liddel made a
very hard choice. What was it?
·
Eric was not expected to do well in the 400
meter event which he did chose to race in.
What happened?
·
If you were Eric Liddel would you have made
the same choice? Why or why not?
·
Discuss as a family times when you have had to
decide between following God’s commandments and doing an activity you may have
wanted to do.
1 Corinthians 9: 23-27 says:
I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its
blessings. 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. Therefore I do not run like a man running
aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that
after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the
prize.
Discussion:
·
How did Eric’s life at and after the Olympic
games live out 1 Corinthians 9:23-27.
2.
All Athletes Need Encouragement:
In
addition to training there is another thing that all successful athletes need,
and that is encouragement. No one makes
it to the Olympics alone. Parents,
siblings, friends, teachers, and coaches surround young athletes with
encouragement and support. It is fun to
watch the reactions and emotions of athlete’s family members as they
compete. It is obvious that they are all
in the event together.
The
race toward heaven is no different. We
all need the support and encouragement of our family members and friends. Scripture reminds us repeatedly to do all we
can to encourage one another.
And let us consider how we may spur
one another on toward love and good deeds.
- Hebrews 10:24
See to it, brothers, that none of you
has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as
it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. - Hebrews 3:13
All
athletes know that sometimes times get tough.
There may be setbacks like injuries or illness. There might be failures where one had hoped
to win. These are the times that
athletes rely on the strength and support of family and friends even more. Scripture reminds us that those who are
strong should help those who are weak, building them up.
We who are strong ought to bear with
the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his
good, to build him up. - Romans
15:1
The
1992 Olympics in Barcelona was the stage for one of the most memorable Olympics
examples of encouragement and support.
British track and field athlete Derek Redmond was no stranger to the Olympics. He was a member of the 1988 Olympic team, but
had to pull out of his event due to an injury to his
achilles. Before the 1992 Olympics he had undergone eight operations and was
favored to win the 400 meter event. He
was determined that this time he would finish his Olympic event. Watch this
video to see what happened.
Discussion
Questions:
·
The video of Derek’s race is heartbreaking to
watch. Things did not go as he had
hoped. What did you think when you saw Derek fall? What did you think would happen?
·
Derek’s father came alongside him and helped
him to finish his race. How do you think
it make Derek feel when his dad broke through security and reached him?
·
Can you think of a time that a family member
came aside you to help you in a difficult situation?
·
Think of some ways your family could plan to
help and encourage one another on a regular basis.
Be Prayer Encouragers of Olympians: Athletes in Action is looking for partners to
pray for London’s Olympians. Your family
can sign up here http://olympics.athletesinaction.org/prayer-strategy/
You will be sent an e-mail with the name of several athletes, their
country and sport. Your family can start
praying for these men and women by name.
"Therefore, since we are
surrounded
by such a great cloud of
witnesses,
let us throw off everything that
hinders
and the sin that so easily
entangles, and let us run
with perseverance the race
marked out for us."
- Hebrews 12:1
Closing Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank you for this time
together to study your word. We thank you
Lord that your son Jesus Christ paid the price for our salvation. Lord we desire to live lives that honor you
as we race with perseverance the race you have marked out for us. Help us Lord to be a family who encourages one
another. Help us to find ways to build
each other up day by day. Lord we ask
that you would also open our eyes to see others who need our encouragements as
well. In your Son’s precious name we
pray, Amen.
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