March Madness

Well March Madness is here and for the Robinette family it means, "It's the most wonderful time of the year" (insert holiday music there).   Anyway I've been watching all of these basketball games and a thought came to me last night.  No, I am not going to talk about how much louder we cheer at ballgames for our favorite teams than we do at church when it comes to praising our God.  I thought I would put a new little spin on it.

As I'm watching the games they start telling the ages of these young men and how young they are.  Then the announcers are quick to point out their inexperiences and the mistakes they are making.  Now most of these guys have played basketball all their lives, but never on big stages like this.  There's a lot more people watching and with that comes a lot more responsibility.  You have to have someone in your corner who you can depend on.  Someone to give you advice.  You need someone whose been in these types of situations before.  You need a coach.

Now let's think about somebody who has just been saved or who has rededicated their life to the Lord.  Let's be honest when the Pastor first asks you to raise your hand or please step forward, there's some presuure there.  You are now a new person through Jesus Christ.  You are a young Christian full of inexperiences and you will make mistakes (We all Do).  For some reason, Christians are put on a bigger stage and just like those basketball announcers,  people will be more quickly to point out your flaws and wrong doings than ever before.  You will need someone in your corner, someone to give you advice, someone whose been through it before.  You need a coach.

I think too often that as Christians we see someone get saved and we say Praise the Lord and rightfully so.  I also think that unless we may know these particular people we don't worry about where their coaching is coming from.  (I'm sure that might offend some and you're thinking, well you're the youth pastor isn't that your job).  You might be right, but I'll also throw the first stone at myself.

I guess what I am trying to say is that, all of us who proclaim to be Christians need to think about coaching some of these new inexperienced, gonna make mistakes and doubt themselves new converts before Satan figures out a game plan to win them back.  Look at these 4 scriptures:

Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance (coaching)  Prov. 1:5

The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice (coaching)  Prov. 12:15

Plans fail for lack of counsel (coaching), but with many advisers they succeed.  Prov. 15:22

Listen to advice and accept instruction (coaching), and in the end you will be wise.  Prov.19:20

Gotta go the Basketball games are starting.