February 4, 2008

Attempt Great Things for God

NOT EVERYONE CAN SAY they have held a world record. But in April 1975, the TFC soccer team set a record for the world’s longest soccer game: 37 hours! Dividing up into two teams, we began on Friday morning at 3:00 a.m. and continued until 4:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, playing two-hour periods with 10-minute rests between periods. Final score: Blue Team-164 / Gold Team-104. During the entire contest a banner hung from the scoreboard that read, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” By God’s grace and strength, 22 committed players—with the support of our coach, Julio Vena, along with dozens of friends who cheered us on, massaged our feet in between periods, and kept us supplied with food and drink—we all achieved the record.

But greater tasks lie before us today. As William Carey, the father of modern missions, exhorted, “Attempt great things for God; expect great things from God.” As we walk with Christ and obey His will for our lives, He often calls us to that which appears too difficult, too challenging, too daunting, too great. Tasks like taking the gospel to resistant people can make setting
a world’s record look easy! But as we attempt great things for God, we can find the strength we need in Christ.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13, NKJV)

(By Dr. Steve M. Irvin, Charlotte, NC, TFC Alumnus, TFC Missionary-in-Residence. Taken from the book: Leaves From the Tree God Planted © 2006 by Toccoa Falls College, p. 14-15)