Week 17 Devo | Love Your Competition - Love Your Neighbor

When I was growing up, I hated playing against a team called the Razorbacks. They were the best team in the league, and they would let you know it.

They would talk trash to you, they would foul you hard, and their parents were the loudest in the stands. There are some teams I didn’t mind losing to, but the Razorbacks were not one of them. They would beat you and then rub it in your face.

As much as I didn’t like them, the Razorbacks brought the best out of us. They pushed us harder and farther than we could push ourselves. We eventually got to the point where we could play with them and beat them, and that was the best feeling as a young athlete. Finally beating them taught me that by having a goal and working hard for that goal, I could achieve my dreams.

They taught me that adversity is a part of everyone’s journey, and how to plan for adversity and losses in my goal setting process.

COMPETITION REVEALS THE GREATNESS THAT IS ALREADY WITHIN YOU.

They also taught me that some people are harder to deal with than others, and it’s important to learn how to live, work, and play with difficult people.

As an adult, I run into mean, hurtful, difficult people all of the time; we all do. The lessons I learned from competing against Razorbacks have helped me deal with them in a positive way. Living, working, and playing with great people is easy. Living, working, and playing with difficult people is difficult.

A message from Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount is another message that I lean on when dealing with difficult people. He told His disciples during His Sermon on the Mount:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust ‭‭(Matthew‬ ‭5:43-45).”

He went on to say:

“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew‬ ‭5:46-48).”

It’s easy to love people who are easy to love, but the best find and share love with everyone - that is what makes them the best.

As a coach, it’s easy for me to coach the athletes who are locked-in and committed to being the best they can be, but the best coaches can motivate, encourage, and inspire the athletes who aren’t as committed.

As a teammate, it’s easy to love the teammates who are easy to get along with. But the best teammates find a way to give, share, and show love to and with ALL of their teammates.

Jesus loved the people who eventually killed him. He loved them so much that he died for them. We won’t like everyone all of the time, but love your enemies and pray for them because God makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

THIS WEEK

1 - What is one friend or teammate that you can show more love to?

2 - What is one way that you can share more love with someone who is hard to love?

3 - What is one barrier that keeps you from showing love to others?

4 - What is a Bible verse or inspirational quote you can lean on when sharing or showing love is difficult?

For a Google doc version of this devo, click here: Week 17 Devo