“Making The Cut!”

 KEY SCRIPTURE

Rom. 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Rom. 9:27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, : 28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. 29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha. 30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

As a freshman in high school, I remember trying out for the jr. varsity basketball team with a pal of mine. The coach had us display our dribbling skills, however we were all so nervous that initially we looked tight. Coach then told us to show him a lil’ something something which we did. Tryouts continue for the next few days, and it included the usual regiment of laps, scrimmages, etc. My friend and I survive every cut until the final day. Earlier in one of the scrimmage game, my friend injured his thumb, and on that final day he was competing with a guy whose brother was on the varsity squad. Though I made the team it was difficult to handle the departure of my buddy.

However, it was also difficult to overlook the good news of my making the team, and keeping my NBA dream alive! To imagine the odds, let’s assume there’s 25 NBA teams with 12 players each. If there were only two major colleges for each of the 50 states in America, that would amount to 100 players. It would take an average of at least four NBA players per team to retire from their dream occupation and lavish lifestyle to open up slots for all the aspiring college players to be accommodated. If an NBA career is just five years, would that affect a 4-year college grad? To add to that improbability, today the league has seen an influx of international players, further decreasing the odds of achieving this dream. Furthermore, there are other factors including small colleges, walk-ons, NBA returnees, etc. The NBA was not my destiny.

In the ‘Sower Parable’ Jesus said that only 1 out of 4 seekers who received the Word was “good ground”, and that it produced some 30, 60, and 100 fold (Mat. 13:1-23). Some “good ground” are church goers (fruit), some are church leaders (more fruit), and then there are those disciples of Christ who make God’s team of Soul Winners (much fruit – Jhn. 15:1-6)!

How does one qualify to be a part of the Soul Winners? One must be willing to “walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (KEY SCRIPTURE).” As “branches” we are all part of God’s tryout, and the “Coach” is looking for us to show Him a lil’ something something! This is not just the opportunity of a lifetime, it’s the opportunity of ALL TIME! Jhn. 15:13 states “greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” As hard as it was to see my friend not make a basketball team, it can’t compare to how I would feel if you, my friend, miss out on the Kingdom! Please pay heed to these words “though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved…(KEY SCRIPTURE)” For those who have already accepted Jesus as their Savior understand that your spiritual walk has only just begun. As fruit we must become more fruit (Gal. 5:22-23), and then much fruit (Php. 1:11-30)! Amen!

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