Tim Tebow prays during a game.
I know the Bronco’s are out of the Superbowl runoff but I read another Tim Tebow slam the other day. An article said something like “I guess Tebow’s God doesn’t like him.”
Here’s the deal. Most people think that if they pray to God for a win – in any category of life – that the outcome reflects whether or not God was “for” or “against” them. They think a win or loss reflects God’s will or favor. God is more strategic than that. He has His plans and purpose and they are always for good.
So how do we explain Tebow’s faith exhibition and his success/failure rate? Its very simple. Tebow is an incredibly gifted athlete and he knows who gave that ability to him. When Tebow is praying, I’m sure it’s to win but moreso, it is to thank God for the opportunity to use his talents on the field. Win or lose, Tebow thanks God for simply being in the game.
Here’s the life lesson and it comes from the movie “Facing the Giants.” In life’s arenas – relationships, finances, business, sports, music, etc – we do our best and leave the results up to God. Win or loose we praise Him for the opportunities we have to walk onto the “field” and live everyday with excellence.
Today, I’m choosing to live under the Grace and through the strength of our Lord. I’ll do my best at leave the results up to God and win or loose, I will still praise him.
Peace!
My new website:
Almost verbatim: that’s actually a Buddhist proverb sans the “early in college”.
This isn’t so much about Tebow himself, but I find it culturally fascinating that Lutheran Christians praise Tebow for essentially genuflecting on the field, but if a pastor does it in church before the altar/Body and Blood of Christ, it is “not good.” Too Catholic, etc.
My only thing with the whole Tebow craze is that we are specifically told in the Sermon on the Mount not to make a display of our righteousness, or to pray “in order to be seen by men.” Of course Jesus isn’t saying that we should never pray in public, but if you think about it, who is getting all the glory in this? Tim Tebow. “What an amazing Christian he is! What an example to us all!” I don’t think that Tim Tebow is doing it just to make a show. I think he is a sincere Christian, who wants to make a difference. That’s all good. But the result is that it does draw a LOT of attention to him.
Tebowmania is a tough one for a lot of us. If our faith journey is bringing alot of attention to ourselves as “good Christians” should we instead be more careful to do our acts of righteousness in a closet. Should we be a little less intentional about our love for our Saviour and desire to honor him in every aspect of our lives because people may judge our motives.
Ultimately I believe it all comes down to our heart condition regarding everything we do, and this is where it gets tricky. Jeremiah 17:9 says “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure, who can understand it”. Although I believe Tim’s heart is right toward God when he “Tebows”, and the last thing on his mind is self aggrandizement, only God truly knows that, not even Tim knows his own heart.
With all that said I praise God for him and other believers who stick their neck out for God’s glory (hoping it comes from a right heart). In reality the hardest judgement on individuals like Tim doesn’t come from non-believers who hate him, that is to be expected. In general the hardest judgement I believe we will have to face as disciples of Christ is from believers who question our motives in seeking to honor God wholeheartedly with all our heart, soul, strength and mind. (What would a follower of Christ truly look like if they loved God in that way?)
Since I don’t know the heart of the individuals who do things for God’s glory, I am going to simply praise Him for anyone who stands up (or kneels down) to make His glory known among the nations. We serve an AWESOME God! Peace Out