The Power Of An Assist!

We are so proud of the Drury Panther basket ball team for winning the national Division 2 Championship in a 74-73 thrilling comeback victory over Metro State last Sunday. Did you know they were down by 17 points in the first half? They showed so much character, energy and resolve to come storming back. They finally caught up the lead in the last minute of play. They closed this amazing season with 23 straight wins! There is spiritual lessons to be learned from this team. Their coach, Steve Hesser, described their win in these terms in the newspaper, "Very collective. They defended collectively. And when we were efficient offensively, we did it together." This was a team effort with strong support from the bench when needed. This reminds me of the power of working together for a common goal. The players were not showing off their own talents or trying to grab some glory for self. Did you know that basketball counts and gives an official credit for an assist? This is the action of passing the ball just right to enable a team mate to score a basket. This official credit shows that the passing of the ball is just as important as making a basket. I find it refreshing when some players have 10 or even more assists after each game. Is the Lord asking you to give an assist to a family member or friend who needs some encouragement to succeed? We often think of success in only an individual perspective. In reality we only win togehter as a family, basketball team, church, or work team. We find fulfillment when we do not think only of our own success but in the ways we can win as a group. Maybe this is partly what the Apostle Paul meant long ago when he challenged us to see our success in life in the image of a healthy biological body,"If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it". He also said, "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." How many assists can the Lord give you official credit for today in your church or family? Remember we win together. The victories of the spiritual life require self-discipline just like a basket ball player, but fulfillment only comes when he learns the power of an assist. May we each find ways to help others do great things that honor God.