Philippians 4:9
One of my favorite parts of hockey is the NHL playoffs. They are gritty and the best playoffs in all of sports. To be the champion and win the Stanley Cup, a team must win a minimum of 16 games. That's a lot! That's 4 best-of-7 game series. They could play anywhere from 16 to 28 games to win the cup! Many players lay their bodies on the line and play through multiple injuries for a chance to be a Stanley Cup champion. Most of the time, the teams don't disclose the injuries that the players were playing through until after the playoffs are over. It is always fascinating to see what injuries some players played through.
In 2013, Patrice Bergeron, captain of the Boston Bruins, played through one of the most impressive injury lists I have ever seen. He played through a broken rib, torn rib cartilage, a separated shoulder, and a punctured lung, which ultimately collapsed and led to him being hospitalized. Unfortunately, the Boston Bruins fell short in the Stanley Cup Final series to the Chicago Blackhawks, and Patrice Bergeron laid it all on the line to just barely fall short. Nonetheless, it is one of the most, if not the most impressive physical battles through injury that I have ever seen. How can someone play through all that and still perform at such a high level?! There is not a single player or person who didn't look up to Patrice for what he battled through for his team. Everyone looked up to him as a true leader and captain, willing to lay it all on the line and to lead by example. That is the kind of captain every team wants. An unselfish, lead-by-example kind of leader. One that you can greatly learn from and have seen everything he said put into practice.
Philippians 4:9 "9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
I love that Paul is a close comparison in the Bible. A man who led by example and not just by his words. We all look at Paul as one of the greatest people in the Bible. One who loved the Lord and followed him with great devotion. A man who went through many sufferings for the Lord and the spreading of the gospel. He did it all willingly and was a great leader! Paul says not to just see his example or listen to his words and do nothing, though. It is important to put it into practice! Learn from his words and example. When we do so, the God of peace will be with us. What an incredible statement! Paul showed us what the utmost devotion to God looked like. Laying everything down to follow Him. Going through many trials and sufferings for His name's sake. However, through it all, Paul was filled with a peace and hope that comes from God alone. Paul knew the Lord on a deep level and loved him deeply. May we all follow Paul's great example in our own lives.
1 Corinthians 11:1 "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."
One of my favorite parts of hockey is the NHL playoffs. They are gritty and the best playoffs in all of sports. To be the champion and win the Stanley Cup, a team must win a minimum of 16 games. That's a lot! That's 4 best-of-7 game series. They could play anywhere from 16 to 28 games to win the cup! Many players lay their bodies on the line and play through multiple injuries for a chance to be a Stanley Cup champion. Most of the time, the teams don't disclose the injuries that the players were playing through until after the playoffs are over. It is always fascinating to see what injuries some players played through.
In 2013, Patrice Bergeron, captain of the Boston Bruins, played through one of the most impressive injury lists I have ever seen. He played through a broken rib, torn rib cartilage, a separated shoulder, and a punctured lung, which ultimately collapsed and led to him being hospitalized. Unfortunately, the Boston Bruins fell short in the Stanley Cup Final series to the Chicago Blackhawks, and Patrice Bergeron laid it all on the line to just barely fall short. Nonetheless, it is one of the most, if not the most impressive physical battles through injury that I have ever seen. How can someone play through all that and still perform at such a high level?! There is not a single player or person who didn't look up to Patrice for what he battled through for his team. Everyone looked up to him as a true leader and captain, willing to lay it all on the line and to lead by example. That is the kind of captain every team wants. An unselfish, lead-by-example kind of leader. One that you can greatly learn from and have seen everything he said put into practice.
Philippians 4:9 "9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
I love that Paul is a close comparison in the Bible. A man who led by example and not just by his words. We all look at Paul as one of the greatest people in the Bible. One who loved the Lord and followed him with great devotion. A man who went through many sufferings for the Lord and the spreading of the gospel. He did it all willingly and was a great leader! Paul says not to just see his example or listen to his words and do nothing, though. It is important to put it into practice! Learn from his words and example. When we do so, the God of peace will be with us. What an incredible statement! Paul showed us what the utmost devotion to God looked like. Laying everything down to follow Him. Going through many trials and sufferings for His name's sake. However, through it all, Paul was filled with a peace and hope that comes from God alone. Paul knew the Lord on a deep level and loved him deeply. May we all follow Paul's great example in our own lives.
1 Corinthians 11:1 "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."
Posted in Devotional