Psalm 83 Genesis 46:1–7, 28–34 1 Corinthians 9:1–15 Mark 6:30–46
Several years ago, my family and I were in Florida over the holidays. While
visiting friends, we stopped by the house of a retired NFL Houston Oilers
player. He and his wife warmly greeted us and showed us their entire home,
as well as memorabilia from his playing days, including an autographed photo
that he had signed Never give up. Never give up. Never give up.
I asked him what these words meant to him, and he said that, over the
years, he had been told that he was too short, didn’t have the talent, was too
unrealistic to achieve his dreams. He said that he had been tempted to take
the easy way out, to train less hard, to play it safe. But he refused, as his faith
told him that God would be with him every step of the way.
The Apostle Paul knew what it meant to accept challenges when the easy way
out was an attractive alternative. And Jesus, especially during His temptations
and before His crucifixion, had the ability to choose between facing the cross
or backing down. We all have times when we want to give up, to acknowledge
that we are too weak or too unprepared.
But Easter gives us a new opportunity to put the past behind us, to face the
future knowing that—although we may not know what it holds—we know
that God is there.
Never give up. Never give up. Never give up.
–Ralph Olson