Got Resitance? Stick with the Periodisation & Reflect!

I was preparing for cell for tonight and was going through John 16. We have been going through the book of John over the last period of time. What an awesome book. So many important aspects are brought to life in John and particularly the works of Jesus whilst on earth. It has been amazing to see how He operated whilst on earth, everything with a bigger plan in mind. Just the same as all our Olympians have had a bigger plan, a specific periodisation, so too Jesus Christ had a specific periodisation for his time on earth.

Many key points stood out for me in this chapter however the one that stood out the most was the last verse. Verse 33 reads “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world”. In this chapter Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit coming into the disciples and our lives when he left earth to return to the Father. He champions us in verse 32 where he says “Behold, the hour is coming (referring to his crucifixion), indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone”. He champions the disciples and us to be scattered around the world and to spread his gospel and the tell of him. However like he says in verse 33 that we will have tribulation, things won’t always be plain sailing, but what we can take from all of this is that Jesus overcame the world. He overcame the most difficult and conquered death on the cross. So whatever trials and tribulations we may experience, we need to have heart that He overcame it all and because of his death on the cross for our sins we may live in this world.

This is particularly applicable to the Olympians that start competing in three days. I am sure that over the numerous years of training and preparation for these games they have all experienced difficult times. They have experienced times when they wondered how they would get through the next training sessions, or when they were not sure if they should carry on, or if it was all worth it. But they did and I trust and pray that many of them did it through the strength that God gives them and the fact that he suffered a worse fate for each on of us. For those whom got through situations but don’t believe in God, my prayer is that when they are in Beijing that they would have the time to reflect on the fact that it is through God’s grace that they have managed to be there.

Another verse that stands out for me is from Verse 21 where Jesus refers to the women whom is pregnant and gives birth. Once the baby is born she no longer remembers the pain and anguish of the birth but is happy and delighted with her new child. Just the same many athletes will forget, as they compete, about all that pain and hard work they have put in and some will achieve the success of the medal. I trust that they will reflect on where they have come from and where they have been, the difficult training sessions, the competitions where they did not always perform as they would have liked to, but now be thankful for the strength God gave them and the blessing he gave each one of them with the talents to compete at this level.

Olympians, may this be a games of reflection and honouring of God.

God Bless

SB