Be Ready!

I know that Les Miles, the coach of LSU, has more help than he ever wanted with coaching. But add one more to the list.

Coach, ya might want to have a three play set ready for when the time is running out and you need a score. Pick three plays and run them over enough times that the team knows how to do them in their sleep.

I have thought about this in reference to being ready in the faith. I have come to two conclusions. Let me share them with you.

First, you have to know your answer to temptation BEFORE you get there. Your response must have a definite plan. Let me give some examples. Teenagers must decide long before they get in the situation about how far they will go with regards to sexuality. If you wait and decide when you get there, it is too late. Married folks have to have a plan to keep their vows if temptation find its way in their life. There are people whom you just have to avoid to keep your marriage well.

All persons are tempted. If someone says they are not, run from them. Faithful persons have a plan in tact for escaping temptation or avoiding the situations where temptations are the highest. What is at stake is of far greater value than the moment of giving in.

Second, be ready to share what God is doing in your life. My congregation gets sick of hearing this. Each Christian should have a four minute elevator speech that says how God is at work in their life today. This should be well rehearsed and ready to go out on a moment's notice. One of the major problems the church faces today is the inability or refusal of persons to share how blessed they are in a church. All the world usually hears is the griping and complaining of those who have a "grudge" against something in the church! Share the good news so that people will want to come to visit your church! Share your faith so that others will be drawn to the source of your faith.

Waiting to develop a plan or knowing what to share is a sure way to lose. You may "squeak" by a few times but it will catch up with you. Make a plan to face temptation (to win!) and be ready to share what God is doing in your life.

Les, (we are on a first name basis) are you ready?