Basketball and Poop

Philippians 3:7-11

My day today was defined by two things:

1) Breakfast with Zach, Pastor Felix, and Dr. Thomas
2) Basketball with the dudes

When I came home, I couldn't stop thinking about how much I ENJOY playing and watching basketball. The game itself is just so exhilarating. There is nothing like making a crisp pass to a cutting teammate, or blocking a shot and sending it to the sidelines, or even shooting a clean jump shot in rhythm and knowing it's in before it even reaches the hoop. I love this game, and I couldn't stop thinking about it when I got home this afternoon.

It was then that I remembered my breakfast with Dr. Thomas and Pastor Ed Caballero from Anaheim Community Church. It was a great time of food, fellowship, and observing older men and their conversations. I was even able to ask Pastor Ed some questions about balancing seminary, ministry, jobs, and family at the same time. I was thankful to grab some great insights from an experienced older brother in the faith. I will take them to heart.

So, how does this relate to basketball today? Well folks, as much as I LOVE THIS GAME, I love my Savior so much more. As much as basketball exhilarates me, church ministry fills me with a jubilation that keeps me alive. The joy from prayer meetings, the powerhouse of the church, are incomparable! Communication to God through prayers and receiving answers from His Word cannot be matched. Delivering a sermon to hungry saints is a worship experience unlike any other! Gospel ministry stands far above all other so-called "joys" in this life.

The defensive plays and sweet J's are but rubbish compared to serving the Almighty Creator that has washed me completely clean through the precious blood of His Son. My goodness... I look at what my life was and what my affections were before and it only amazes me how blind to the truth I was when I pursued those vain things. Thank God for grace.

People, basketball, as wonderful as basketball is, could not and cannot satisfy me for all eternity. College degrees, television, money, jobs, internet, video games, and relationships have a special place in the hearts of many many people but they will not ultimately satisfy. Paul in this letter to the church in Philippi reminds us that worldly accomplishments pale in comparison to knowing Christ Jesus. They are even to be considered "dung." If thought about properly, you see that we as sinners are clinging to temporary pleasures when we should embrace the infinite, all-satisfying supreme Being. And Christ must help us do that.

I was reminded today of how I struggle with "rubbish-clinging" every day of my life. My prayer is that the Lord will forgive me of settling for less than Christ by falling into the temptation of the world. Lord, guard us all from sin!

Beloved, you can use these things for the glory of God, but when this "rubbish" takes full priority in your life, and you have replaced a life with Jesus for these earthly accomplishments, then you have exchanged the riches of the glorious Christ for mere rags of crap.

Please take this to heart... and much love to you all.

-Brother Micah