Peak of the Week – August 17th

 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

– John 17:20–21

Every four years it seems like the world forgets its troubles and divisions. Why? I don’t think it is because of the Olympics, and I certainly don’t think it has anything to do with the Presidential election. If there is a one reason we can point to I believe it be a characteristic that is found deep within ourselves, something that was created in us. It is a desire for unity. Yes, we get distracted from it often with the troubles of life, but it is still there. Jesus knew this and he prayed not only for himself and those whom he loved but also for all who would listen to the Gospel. Jesus wanted us to be unified with Him in spirit and in truth. Eventually the Olympics and Presidential elections will be over, what then will bring us together again? I know of only one thing that can perfectly unite souls in complete harmony, the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Let your light shine!

Peak of the Week – August 10th

“But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:27, ESV)

Miguel Duran Navie, you’ve probably never heard the name but he is a Spanish swimmer who competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Unfortunately, he didn’t medal. Even worse, he was disqualified before the event took place. Just before the gun that signals the race to begin, Navia dove into the water for the preliminary heat in the 400m freestyle. Automatic disqualification. As one news site described it, his Olympic dreams were dashed.

How sad it would be to work your entire life to achieve one goal, only to be disqualified. Life is a marathon with twists and turns, some more subtle than others, that we need traverse. Sometimes we’ll trip and skin our knee but we’re able to rise from that and still finish the race. Unlike Olympic races were the field is meticulously prepared and cleared of all unintended obstacles, our race in life seems to be meticulously prepared to create obstacles. The assailant’s name is “The Prince of THIS World”, A.K.A. Satan.

His goal is to do more than “trip us up” but to disqualify us from the race. He tries to get us to believe false doctrines, to listen to gospels of from “other angels”, and even to believe that we are really gods. Paul pointed to the only thing that can safeguard us from the wiles of the devil. Discipline! Just as an Olympian prepares each and every day for years leading up to one moment, we too must prepare our minds for action, for that moment when Satan decides temps us. We won’t let Satan tempt us by firing the race gun too early because we will have our sights set on our true judge, God.

Let your light shine!

p.s. Navie was later allowed to compete in the 400m freestyle due to a “premature gunshot noise coming from the crowd”, almost as though someone was trying to draw him off-sides…sound familiar?