"Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing."
Unfolding
Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them. The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119:129,130The word “unfolding” is very striking and perhaps speaks to us of God opening his word to us. The first verse of Psalm 119 – by some distance the longest of the Psalms – refers to “the law of the Lord” and most of the Psalm carries on that theme. As Christians, we worship a God who speaks and who has spoken. What a privilege to have a collection of God’s words to guide us, to encourage us, to direct us and to rebuke us. The word “unfolding” also reminds us that a Bible on our bookshelf does not help us a lot. It needs to be unfolded, opened and read.
The Psalmist says that as the Word of God is unfolded it gives light and understanding. I love the phrase that it “gives understanding to the simple” – so I am not excluded.
The more we read God’s word, the more we understand and the more the words shape our beliefs, values and ethics. God’s words “become part of who we are and enter the very core of our being*”.
As sportspeople that means that how we compete, how we relate to other people – be they coaches, administrators, team-mates or opponents – must reflect the values and standards that we find in the Bible.
As Paul wrote in Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom”.
Ask God to unfold his word to you this week and take it with you into your sporting life.
*Daniel McGinnis, Encounter with God 2020