FCA ResourcesDevotional
Right or Left?
By Dan Britton
Ready
“But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. ‘Ananias,’ Peter asked, ‘why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds from the land?’” -- Acts 5:1-3
Set
When I played little league football, my team had an undefeated season. Not a single team even scored against us. Not bad for 8-year-olds! After our games, our coach would hand out the coveted “110%” helmet stickers to players who had played with all their heart and had given that extra effort on the field.
As competitors, we can sometimes be tempted to hold back what is God’s for our own pleasure. But God wants us to give Him what is right, not what’s left. In Luke 6:38, Jesus says:
Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure — pressed down, shaken together, and running over — will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
Ananias gave what was left, not what was right. Abel gave what was right; Cain gave what was left. God is not honored by our leftovers. The challenge when competing is to surrender all of your talents, gifts and abilities to become more like Christ on and off the field.
Go
- How can you make sure that you always give God what is right?
- In what ways can you give your team everything you have during practice and competition?
Overtime
“Lord, it is hard to surrender all my abilities for You. Please renew my mind and help me to give You 100 percent of the glory when I compete. Amen.”
Group