When God Singles You Out - Part 1

Single Out: to treat or to speak about (someone or something in a group) in a way that is different from the way one treats or speaks about others. (Merriam Webster.)

I grew up in a world of sports, from the time I can remember I had in my hand a ball, bat, baseball, glove, football, basketball, ping pong paddle, volleyball, horseshoes, table (air hocky), foosball, and even a tennis ball for my wife's sake...you get the picture.

As an athlete there were many times the coach would call you out in front of the entire team, if perhaps you blew a play, missed an end of game shot, walked in a losing run or maybe you just were not performing to your best for any given reason. Those could be quite embarrassing, humiliating, and condescending times. However, as an athlete, you learn that is just part of the game...suck it up, catch a gear, adjust your attitude, etc. The message ultimately was intended to cause you to perform at your highest potential, but it all depended on your attitude, your decision, and how you responded to it. Then there was a time when you became the hero. You make the game winning shot, hit the game winning home run, strike out the final batter, score the winning touchdown, spike the game point in volleyball, even soccer gets a mention, scoring or saving the game winning shot.

These were the exciting times, when coach, team, media, and family, are all over you for the great event. It was celebration time! For a moment you may feel like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Nolan Ryan, Hank Aaron, or whomever your sport icon was at the time. Nonetheless, you and others gloried and celebrated together in that time of victory. And let us not forget the Pastor who might preach that "knock it out of the park" sermon, or teacher that pours blessings of knowledge into your soul. Be sure to celebrate that moment with them. A coach would say, "adda boy", "good job", and give you a fist bump or pat on the backside. Celebration in an athlete's world gets energetic and can seem somewhat odd these days, nevertheless, celebrate!

In the book of Hebrews chapter eleven, we find that God has singled out several heroes. People who faced great challenges, obstacles, and even life-threatening situations. The likes of Abraham, Sara, Jacob, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Samson, and many others, who through faith, subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fires, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to fight the armies of aliens. The chapter goes on to talk about other heroes, those that gave their lives in various sufferings (of whom the world was not worthy), the Bible said. Yet, God has singled them out and saw that they were celebrated in the hall of faith.

The chapter concludes, God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us, should not be made perfect.

Please join me next week for the conclusion of, "When God Singles You Out"

~ Pastor James ~