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September 21, 2009 - Interceptions Don't Have to Be Fatal

When an NFL quarterback drops back to pass, the one thing he doesn’t want to do is to throw an interception.  Unfortunately, in the heat of the battle what a quarterback wants and what can happen to the miss-guided pigskin may be two different things.

The possibility of an interception should not deter a quarterback from throwing the ball.  An experienced quarterback will make a decisive decision and react accordingly.  If the possibility of an interception seems low to moderate given the possibility for gain then he throws the pigskin.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

One of my favorite quotes on risk taking comes from the great Teddy Roosevelt who said, “Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat”

Refining our Skills

To be a successful passer you need to constantly refine and perfect your skills while taking some risks.  The discipline of working on being extremely accurate is of utmost importance to the experienced quarterback. The quarterback’s passing drills involve several opportunities to “thread-the-needle” by throwing the pigskin into very tight spots.

So it is with being a disciple.  It’s about practice and commitment.  Jesus is perpetually involved in perfecting the saints for the work of ministry – and He uses our circumstances and us in the process. You and I as disciples are to make other disciples who can, in turn, reproduce themselves.  Discipleship is apprenticeship.  It is the process of sharing, encouraging, modeling, teaching, listening, and serving.

Great quarterbacks aren’t born into the position.  It’s happens because a person is devoted to a great deal of hard work and through his mentors is refined and perfected.  In the case of the quarterback his coaches will help shape and mold the young man into a player.

Ken Carpenter, editor for Spirit of Revival Magazine, understands that discipleship
is exactly what God’s word teaches us about the persistence and patience it takes to be a mature Christian.  He states that for the committed Christian, “discipleship is a process.  God’s desire is to etch into our lives the imprint of His Son, Jesus.  He is responsible for the construction process of making us like Christ.  But He needs yielded, available individuals willing to be shaped, molded, and carved by His hands.” 

The daily practice of living a Christ-like life will help keep us from having our intentions and actions intercepted by the evil one.  Be accurate and focused in your representations.