.
Many times we are faced with decisions in how to respond to a certain
situation. Sometimes we respond like a mature adult and sometimes we respond
like a little child. Does it make a difference how we respond? Sure it does,
we cannot act like little children. Greetings in the name of our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ.
I have watched recently the response of some competitors when events on
the track didn’t go the way they wanted. They responded like a spoiled
little child would. You know the response, if I don’t get my way I am taking
my ball and going home. They run away and hide not wanting to take
responsibility. What kind of example does that show others?
I have also seen competitors who have been dealt the short end of the
stick respond in a mature, controlled manner. They indicate that they have
self-control in spite of the circumstances that surround them. They indicate
a character that will help them as they seek to advance their career and
live life.
Let’s face it, in racing there are going to be good days and bad days.
Some times everything is going to fall in place and you will find yourself
in Victory Lane. Sometimes everything is going to go against you and the guy
that ends up in Victory Lane doesn’t deserve to be there. As one songwriter
put it,” Some days are diamonds and some days are stones.” How we respond to
the days that fall short of our hopes and dreams reveals how mature we are.
It also sets the tone for days to come.
We may not realize it but when we act in a way that doesn’t honor God we
set in motion a path that leads away from Him and His plan for our lives.
Think if it this way, good produces good, bad produces bad, good doesn’t
come from doing things against God.
Yes, we all know bad things happen to good people. There are many reasons
for that, one being not everyone has your best interest at heart. Most times
people are so caught up in themselves that they don’t take the time to think
how their actions affect others. When someone acts in a selfish way, good
people will be in their path and bad things happen.
We can however still honor God. This just provides another opportunity
for us to respond differently than what other might expect. We need to
remember who is in control and let God direct us. Think of the example we
set for others when we respond in a mature, God honoring way? Here is a
passage that will help at times like these;
Matthew 5:43-48, “You
have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.
But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.
For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain
on the just and the unjust alike.
If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even
corrupt tax collectors do that much.
If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone
else? Even pagans do that.
But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
We have all seen drivers who drive like no one
else in the race matters to them. They drive with one vision, get to the
front at all costs. Sometimes they win; sometimes they end up on the hook,
wrecker or checkers. But what about the damage and chaos they cause along
the way? What about the drivers who are the benefit of that driver’s
immature behavior? Maturity requires that we think about our actions and how
they affect those around us. We can’t just run roughshod through life and
leave a path of destruction along the way. That does not honor God.
Some of us excuse it if the driver is one we like. Some of us are
disappointed that the driver resorted to bad driving techniques to secure
the win. Some just reason it away as good hard racing. We have many ways of
looking at it. Let me help you understand something, how you view this goes
a long way toward revealing your own maturity level.
Paul, the writer of the Book of Ephesians, challenges us to grow up,
become mature in our faith so that we won’t be tossed about, believing
anything we hear as the true Word of God. He says;
Ephesians 4:11-16, Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church:
the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up
the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such
unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the
Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and
blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when
people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more
like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole
body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it
helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing
and full of love.
We are all teachers and teach by
example; our job is to build up the Kingdom of God. We cannot do this if we
act like immature children. The goal is that we are mature in the Lord and
do our part to make the body of Christ one, whole, healthy, growing and full
of love.
There is a danger if we fail to grow up; we will be tossed about, running
from here to there not knowing what to believe. Think of a dog chasing his
tail, running around and around in circles, he only knows what he is chasing
when he catches it, bites it and feels the pain. When we are not mature we
can be led astray by some find sounding teaching, we chase after it, we
believe it to be something else, only to catch it and find it is nothing at
all. Then we feel the pain of deceitfulness.
Solomon asked God for wisdom to understand all things. God granted him
that to him. He then set out to determine what was real and worth pursuing.
He determined that the pursuit of man’s desires were like “chasing the wind”
and that nothing lasting and fulfilling came from those pursuits. You can
read his thoughts in the OT book of Ecclesiastes, here is his conclusion;
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, That’s the whole story. Here now is my final
conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands,
for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do,
including every secret thing, whether good or bad.
We need to mature in our faith, learn
and teach about God. We need to have a respect for God that is above
everything in our lives. We need to be obedient to His guidance, direction
and instructions. Don’t waste away your life living like a little child,
tossed here and there, without anything to hold you firmly in place. Grow
up.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
THE PLOT THICKENS
- As a result of the last lap position changes the points race for the
Whelen Modified Tour Championship has jumbled up a bit. First and second
places have swapped and third has taken a chunk out of the deficit. Next up
Stafford this weekend.
I am not sure how to respond to the aftermath of the NHMS tour race. I
have listened and read many views and opinions. At this point the only one
that matters is the one of the officials. They reviewed the incident and
made a decision. As they say, “We’re on to Stafford.”
I believe there are many that struggle to embrace the decision made and
it leaves us feeling incomplete. Somehow they didn’t get what they hoped to
see. They struggle with the finality of it.
It seems that Modified racing in general this year has more than its
share of drama. There have been more than a few times decisions made are
confusing. I certainly cannot explain, defend or change any of those
situations. I can say that it won’t be the last time a decision is made that
we struggle to understand. They are made and we must move on. On to
Stafford!
THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD - I’m taking the long way to Stafford
this week via Florida. We are moving our daughter down to Orlando to pursue
her dream of working for Disney. We are so excited for her. Taking the short
way home courtesy of Jet Blue.
Watch our website for some changes, while in Florida I hope to spend some
time with our web developer and update the look and functionality. Keep an
eye on it. Until next time, be a witness for our Lord with the ministry
decals and apparel. See them at the Show Your Faith Apparel Store at
www.rwjm.com. Send us
your prayer and counseling needs no matter what part of our racing family
you are in, or give us a call. Remember that God loves you, we love you and
Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing. GOD BLESS.
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Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord
make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face
toward you and give you peace."
May God always Bless you, everyday in everyway. Rev. Don
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