“Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.”
I’ve heard over the years a lot of coaches motivate their players by telling them it’s time to raise their game. It’s time to get out of the state of normalcy they were in, work harder, and get better. A lot of them use some pretty firm language. As a matter of fact, there is a clip floating around on the internet of the Texas coach giving what was considered the most profanity-laced postgame challenge to his team ever made. I don’t know if that’s true, but it’s pretty tough. Compared to that, this actually seems pretty light. This verse is preceded by Solomon telling his audience, “You who are simple” — we would say foolish — “how long do you plan to stay simple?” And mockers, how long do you plan to mock? Then he tells them to repent. He says then he will share with them his thoughts, also that he will make his teachings known to them. Wisdom, God’s wisdom, making that offer seems pretty great. It is amazing how many ignore it and continue to be simple and to mock Him. The real tragedy is there are times that we, as His followers, do the same thing. There are times I’ve chosen to stay simple rather than pay attention. I don’t know that I mock Him, but maybe my actions have at times. In my life now, I want to know His thoughts and teachings more than I ever have before. I wish I had burned for them 50 years ago the way I do now. My story may be a little different, and I might have avoided a couple of ditches. I don’t see how I could not have. This is greater than any football game or basketball game or any other sport. This is also not about raising a number by the end of a quarter. This is not about any kind of business, political, or social growth. This is about knowledge, intimacy, and transformation by Jesus. This is certainly the motivational challenge we should pay 100% attention to and then get out and pursue. Today, let’s all raise our game for Him. #BeTheEdge
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV
