November 28. Pick One Or Two

Every leader must deal with sets. There are always two. Two what, you might ask. I would say that is what a leader must figure out. It is not that there is just one set, but there are multiple sets to decide what to give our attention and energy too.

In a game of football, you have quarterbacks and receivers, kickers, and returners as well as offense and defense. The leader helps the team to focus and give energy to the right set at the right time. The result of putting a defense on the field when your team has four downs with possession of the ball is not going to deliver long term value.

But the sets we have as a leader deal with our teams, our family, our faith, our companies, and our communities. What are the most important sets that your team is working on? Do they see it as a set or something singular or could you as leader find the other part?

What is your most important objective today? When you decide what is most important today you also select what is not the most important thing today. That is a set. Which sets will you put your focus on to finish out the remainder of this year? What is the first thing that you can do about it today?

As Christians, we also have sets. We do not think of them as offense and defense, however. We can be thinking of them as relationships of one thing with another.

We read, "Blow the ram’s horn in Jerusalem! Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting.” And as well, “Do not be afraid, O land. Be glad now and rejoice, for the LORD has done great things.” Joel 2:15 & 21 NLT. Did you catch the set?

These passages show the relationship of repentance and rejoicing. What kind of life would we lead if all we did was repent or be sorry about everything from the past? I am excited about a future filled with joyous living. I know that I am going to fail, to falter, but God sent Christ to pay the price of my shortcomings.

It is going to be ok. I will certainly repent when I sin and fall short but that does not mean that I will go and sin on purpose. But our faith journeys are about the sets as well. When the quarterback throws the ball, I want my team’s receiver to catch the ball. Where might you be frustrated today with an issue?

Maybe if we look for the set, Christ might be able to transform frustrations into fascination. That is a pretty cool set. With great sorrow great joy can follow. Where great tragedy occurs, great revival can happen. Are we willing to focus on finding the set when we get down?

Finding the set allows us to find freedom on the other side of fear. What is the first thing that you can do about it in the next seven days?

Let us pray, Heavenly Father, we recognize that there is only one God but everything else might just be made of sets. Help us to see the side of love instead of the side of hate. Send your Holy Spirit among us to transform desires solely for ourselves to desires for our relationship with you.

Thank you for Jesus Christ and the opportunity to transform frustration into fascination as easily as the quarterback says, ready, set, hike. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen,