Single-minded, focused and relentless...

[based on a devotion from the WELS Synod convention on Thursday 30 July, 2015]

There's a biography of the Wright Brothers that gives insight to Orville and Wilbur Wright. (podcast interviewing the author - David McCullough)

They wanted to fly.

They observed, invented and persisted tirelessly.

Those two brothers were single-minded, focused and relentless.

And those three terms should describe me as a Christian, too.

The first part of Phillipians 1:27 says "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.". 

Whatever happens - be single-minded, focused and relentless in worthy conduct.

Why?  

Is the gospel of Christ worth it?

Indeed.

To quote the commercial - it's "priceless".

Jesus showed us what worthy really means.

The Tour de France is an incredibly difficult bicycle race.  It's made even more difficult by traversing mountains.  They rate the difficulty of each mountain stage and award points accordingly.

The easiest mountain climb is 4C.  Then 3C, 2C and 1C.

The most difficult is called HC.  It stands for Hors Catégorie which is defined as "a climb that is 'beyond categorization'".

Jesus love and sacrifice on the cross for me was an absolute "HC".  A suffering beyond all understanding that gives us a peace beyond all understanding.

We can't be worthy without Jesus.

Not possible.

And we have a lot of trouble being single-minded, focused and relentless without Jesus, too.

Thank God for Jesus!

So that we can rejoice together with the second part of verse 27 - "Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,[a] striving together as one for the faith of the gospel".

The Wright Brothers - 2 men, one in purpose.

They flew.

The Christian body of believers - millions of us, one in Spirit, one in purpose.

You'll fly!

Wow!

We can pray along with Romans 15:5-6.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

AMEN!

Link to daily bible reading calendar (chronological - one chapter per day)

TIP: click the Bible Reference and then "more details" to get hyperlinks that open Bible Gateway

What's the big deal about Jesus?