FCA Impact Play: "In Serious Jeopardy"

This is a semi-daily devotional that is emailed from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I found it very timely and significant. If you'd like to subscribe to the FCA Impact Play, click here.
In Serious Jeopardy Monday, August 27th, 2007
READY: "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. . .But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved." -Ephesians 2:1,4-5
SET: "You are now justifiably facing consequences for the decisions you made and the conduct in which you engaged. Your career, freedom and public standing are now in the most serious jeopardy." These stern words were written to NFL quarterback Michael Vick from the league's commissioner, Roger Goodell, after Vick agreed to plead guilty to select charges in a dog-fighting operation. Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely and without pay.
Now reread those words from Roger Goodell as if they were written to you. Maybe you have a hard time inserting yourself in that situation because you've never committed a "serious" crime and you can't imagine yourself ever doing so. However, in God's eyes, every one of us is guilty of breaking His law, even if we've only committed a "little" sin (James 2:10).
Let's fast-forward to the end of your life when you have to stand before Almighty God. Could it be said that, "You are now justifiably facing the consequences for the decisions you made and the conduct in which you engaged; your eternal destiny is in serious jeopardy"?
Friend, but for the gift of grace we all justly deserve to be sentenced to eternity in Hell. Thank God that He sent His Son to pay the death penalty we all deserve--that by accepting the sacrifice of Christ and acknowledging Him as Lord, we can be cleared of all charges.
May we ponder the encouraging words of John Newton today. "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see."
GO: 1. What do you think the reaction would be if Roger Goodell volunteered to take Michael Vick's punishment for his crime upon himself?What do you think Vick's reaction would be? 2. What are the key words/phrases you see in the Ephesians passage? Why did you choose them? 3. How can/will you thank God today for sending His Son to take your sin punishment upon Himself?
WORKOUT: Romans 7:24-25, 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Titus 3:3-7
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Josh Carter is an East Central Illinois FCA Representative.

Comments

Law+Gospel said…
Glad you found time to blog. Down to the home stretch for Greek
August 27, 2007 at 10:41 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Oh Yeah, Football

Quick Random Football Notes The BCS should be abolished. The OSU deserves to be in the title game, but making a case for LSU, Oklahoma or USC is very easy. I hate the ESPN whiners saying how tough a playoff would be. I think the sweater vest can use the extra resources at The OSU in a playoff a little better than he did at Youngstown State where he won 3 National Titles in 1AA. If division 3 non-scholarship teams can play a 16 game tournament, so can the megabucks schools. Michigan will be better off for not having Les Miles. Why Brian Kelly is not on any list amazes me. I'd love to see GoBlue call the sweater vest and offer a blank check. The Pats beat the Ravens to stay undefeated. The Ravens whine about "phantom calls." Mugging isn't a phantom crime. Losing your composure isn't a phantom crime. Having an "offensive genius" run an offense that has held back an all-time defense isn't a phantom crime. Billick is the only person in the NFL who need
Read more

Lutheran Carnival LV

Image
Prepare Ye is proud to host the 55th Lutheran Carnival . As I'm preparing to pack up and move to Gettysburg to enter the Seminary there, I thought I'd volunteer to host the carnival and delay packing up the computer for one more weekend. Please ignore the mess, the assorted boxes and bubble wrap just laying around and enjoy the submissions. (Oh, if you carry any boxes - be sure to lift with your legs!) The posts are listed in submission order: The Tour Marm presents I Saw a Man Walk on the Moon , a touching look back on her memories and relationship with her stepfather. Write to right presents 3 Easy Steps On How To Create A Productive Life , an enlightening essay on how to do what's truly important. I wish I would have seen the "Strip Out the Useless" advice before I started packing! The Pistol Packin' Presbytera presents National Ice Cream Day: Passing On Family Traditions , a post which links the past and present as she describes family and friends
Read more

And Music Still On MTV

Image
"1985" by Bowling for Soup A quick tale of woe from a second-career seminarian. I don't know how the conversation got started, (I blame Law & Gospel ) but I got in a conversation with some of my class mates who are pipeliners. The discussion was about embarassing clothing. I grew up in the 70's & 80's, the two decades that provided the most opportunities for fashion crimes. If you were ever at the height of fashion coolness in those decades, you do NOT want to show anyone those photos now. One of my classmates (bless her heart) said, "I didn't even go to school in the 80's." I honestly have clothes here with me that are older than many of my classmates. I'll take my arthritic knees and kneel to pray before I go to bed. Hopefully I can get up. I know my experience will pay off sometime soon, but how long must I wait O Lord?
Read more