One Game At A Time

The Yankees’ 2011 season has come to an end. In spite of a pretty good run that propelled them into the post-season; and in spite of their effort throughout their series with the Detroit Tigers, they just couldn’t pull it off.  In the end, they had to pack up and go home (and maybe head off to the golf course!).

Some of us are probably a bit frustrated with some of the players (I won’t name any names!). The players themselves are probably asking, how did this happen?  I’m sure that many of them are replaying plays and at-bats in their minds. In the end, however, it doesn’t matter. The truth is, leaving bases loaded twice, striking out at the worst possible moment, allowing two runs right off the top, none of that makes for a win.  At last night’s game, it didn’t matter how well the team had played throughout the year or how many wins they had on their stats sheet; all that mattered was winning that one game.  And, by not winning that one game, their  season (and chance to win the world series) came to an abrupt end. 

But, that’s what it’s all about: winning one game at a time. Any cumulative success is always the result of being able to win one day and then go back and win again the next.  To be a “winning team” means being able to stack win after win.  That’s true in baseball (or any other sport), as well as in life. 

The Apostle Paul was a man who refused to rely on his past success for the “game” at hand. He knew that each day was a new day—another opportunity to score a “win” for the Kingdom of God.  He wrote, “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14—NIV)  Elsewhere he writes that each one of us should, “…make the most of every opportunity.” (Colossians 4:5—NIV)  He knew that to live a life of wins means experiencing one win at a time.

I want to encourage you today to stay focused, persevere, and put forth the skill and effort needed to “win” today.  Don’t allow yourself to become overly confident, relying on your past successes.  And, don’t worry about the future. Serve Christ today. Do what he’s called you to do today. Live the way he’s instructed you to live today. As you do, you will find the wins of your life will quickly stack up.

You can be a winner by simply winning one game at a time! 

Have a great day!

-Pastor Tim Harris