Thought for the week (we 14th July 2013)

What a weekend it’s been!

The British Lion’s roared to victory and brought their Australian tour to a resounding end with the test series convincingly in the bag. The disappointment of the second test with that one point loss was more than made up for by their runaway win.

Although close at times, there’s no doubt that Warren Gatland’s strategy paid off and floored his many critics bringing the pride of the Lions back after sixteen years of disappointment.

Then on Sunday afternoon Andy Murray held the Wimbledon men’s singles trophy high following what can only be called a gruelling final. A long time coming but another moment to relish as for the first time for seventy seven years the trophy remains firmly in the UK.

Such sporting success did not come overnight but the result of hard and committed training and dedication. Andy Murray’s grandmother interviewed in his home town Dunblane spoke of three year old Andy taking up a tennis racket and never looking back.

A young Leigh Halfpenny, rightly voted player of the series kicked a rugby ball for the first time and that was it. Amazing potential that was recognised and encouraged by parents and teachers alike and last weekend it all come together with those amazing victories.

It’s the same when it comes to faith. We need to practice and work at it and to encourage each other along the way.

The joy of faith is found not merely in practicing religion but in taking seriously the claims of Jesus and living daily in obedience to his commands. Not always easy but then again Jesus never promised us that it would.

The Bible tells us to run the race of faith and to look to Jesus who encourages and keeps us on the way so that we will win the greatest prize, the gift of life both now and for eternity.