WEEK 50 | ABOVE THE LINE

One of the hardest parts about being a leader is having to set a line of expectations and then actively live above that line.

It’s easy to say, “Work hard, show up early, stay late, compete in every drill, every day, and don’t take any shortcuts,” but nobody is perfect and we all make mistakes.

I’ve heard many coaches say, “Do as I say, not as I do.” We know what we need to do, but we don’t always do it.

Jesus knew this too, and He addressed this when He was talking to His disciples and the crowds of people about the teachers of religious law at the time to His disciples and crowds of people in Matthew 23.

Jesus said, “So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. Everything they do is for show. On their arms, they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels.” (Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭3‬-‭5‬)

Don’t be that person; don’t be that type of teammate, leader, or coach. Be who you say you are and do as you say you will do. But also be able to listen to people’s words and find wisdom without judging their actions.

Jesus continues by saying, “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.” ‭‭(Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭27‬-‭28‬)

We often know what we should do, but we don’t always do it. Work on being the same on the outside that you are on the inside. Be a person who does what they say and whose actions match their words.

THIS WEEK

1 - Listen for good words of wisdom, and try to apply them to your life. Try to listen for wisdom in what people say without judging their actions.

For a Google doc version of this devo, click here: Above the Line