Athlete, we know a giving God

PLAYBOOK DEVOTIONAL

Athlete, we know a giving God

Tom Petersburg

Ephesians 2:4-7 (NASB)

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

One afternoon at Vanderbilt University, a student and I got into a conversation that turned to spiritual things. We talked at length about knowing God personally, which led to him praying to begin a relationship with God through Jesus. 

He was excited to learn what this new relationship was all about. After two weeks he said, “Well, I have finished reading through the New Testament. What else is there?” He was off to a good start, but he didn’t realize it would take a lifetime to unpack all that God had given him. 

Yesterday’s devotional was about how few “wants” we bring before God. On the other hand, we are still discovering what God has already given us that has daily implications to following Jesus. 

The “surpassing riches of His grace” are far more than health and wealth! Sometimes we are surprised that the riches of His grace come packaged differently than we expect. 

The president of a prominent seminary left his doctor’s office with an unexpected diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. He and his wife were reduced to tears as they realized it would end his seminary tenure. 

Then he realized that his most fervent prayer of recent months had been a request that God would increase the impact of his life for God’s glory. God did just that as students, friends, colleagues and his church were impacted by the way he trusted God with his life and health.  

Need a refresher of God’s great gifts? Take a few minutes to check out Ephesians 1, 1 Peter 1 and 2 Peter 1 today.  

Tom Petersburg, www.catapultministries.org

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