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Wholehearted

Facing The Giants

Are you giving your best?

In a previous job, I recall an incident where the quality of an individuals work was being harshly criticized. In that moment, being only an ear-shot away from the event, I overheard the issuing of an executive order - no longer would anyone use the term "manage expectations". To be managing expectations with a client or manager was equivalent, in their mind, to convincing someone that "less" was what they were going to get. Less quality. Less support. Less functionality. Basically... less then the best.

From the Facing The Giants study, we're given the scene where one of the team's leaders is exhibiting an defeatist attitude. He's managing expectations on the upcoming game, conveying that he wouldn't write-off the game as a loss if he knew they could win. He's then challenged to do the death crawl, a drill involving carrying another player on his back, crawling on all fours, across the football field. He tried to manage expectations, saying he thought he could make it 30 yards. The coach blindfolded him and told him he thought he could go an outrageous 50 yards... but he didn't want anything less than the best. The player showed true wholeheartedness for the first time, carrying a 160 pound man on his back the entire length of the field.

The call to be wholehearted is tough to hear sometimes. But God sets it out for us pretty clearly in Colossians 3:23-24

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (ESV)

Whatever I do? Does that mean "whatever I do at work". Yes... but it is deeper. How about

In my work
In my parenting
In serving my spouse
In building my friendships
In my Bible study
In Worship
In my service to God
In loving my enemy
In everything?

For the Lord, who in His mercy saved me from eternal punishment, there can be no less. I thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit, which works in us an attitude of wholeheartedness; an attitude that brings honor and glory to His name, so that all can see His goodness and grace through Christ Jesus.

Related Scriptures

Old Testament

New Testament

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