“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many”. (I Cor. 12:13-14).
Hey Gang: Legendary UCLA coach John Wooden was a winner. In a recent article that centered on his life, he gave credit for his success in. -not only how we treat each other on the basketball court- but in every facet of life.
Simply stated it was to acknowledge and give credit to the one who helped them score the bucket. When one of the younger players said, “But coach, there is no time to run over and pat the guy on the back”. Coach Wooden’s response was, “A Nod, a Smile, a Word of Encouragement – A Seed” a meeting of the eyes sends the message that you recognize the opportunity he made possible for you.
He continually drove home the point that victory was dependent on being willing to sacrifice yourself to help one of your team mates excel -whether on the hardwoods, gridiron, family, or in the corporate world. He also made it clear that when you give up yourself to help another you are as equally important to the victory as the one who, in most cases, are the focus of the headlines.
Coach Wooden’s rule and the above Scripture are rooted in the principle of seeing our need for one another. In Matthew 20:26-28 we read Jesus formula for success: “Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
If someone were to ask me what is my favorite verse in all the Bible, I would be extremely hard pressed to answer; there are many verses that are very special to me, each designed to meet a specific need at a specific time in my life. If the question was, “What is the verse that you used most throughout your ministry years, there is no question it is Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure – pressed down, shaken together and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
Wait, stop, reread that last line again “…by your standard of measure”. By whose standard? God’s? No! Your standard. Paul was a great teacher of this principle. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, he wrote, “Those who give bountifully will reap bountifully” not under compulsion or grudgingly for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Don’t stop there! Notice there is a fringe benefit from the throne room of heaven for those who give with a loving heart: “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed” (verse 8). Can you say “whoopee” to that promise?
My good friends, put this in your think-tank and mull it over as you go through the chores of the day. I suspect, if you are looking around, there will be opportunities to give a nod, a smile or a few words of encouragement to someone who really needs encouragement today.
Blessings,
Gramps
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