This past weekend was loaded with sports, including some thrilling NBA finishes and a huge PGA blowout. A common thread throughout multiple events was how the losing teams and players accomplished so much, but it still was not enough to win.
In the NBA, the LA Clippers scored 133 points and appeared like they would get the win until Luka Doncic hit a 3 at the buzzer in overtime to give the Mavs a 2-point victory.
Jamal Murray led the way for the Denver Nuggets with 50 points, but his team lost 127-129 to the Utah Jazz and Donovan Mitchell who scored 51. This was the first time in playoff history that two opposing players each scored at least 50 points.
On Saturday night, the Rockets went to overtime with the Thunder and even though James Harden scored 38 points in 37 minutes, it wasn’t enough as his team lost 119-107.
We also witnessed two 4-0 sweeps as the Celtics eliminated the Sixers because they just didn’t have enough without injured All-Star, Ben Simmons.
Meanwhile, the Nets were knocked out by the Raptors because they just didn’t have enough without injured NBA champions, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Once again, Dustin Johnson became the number one golfer in the world, thanks to shooting 30 under par and winning by 11 strokes. It's hard to believe that Harris English finished 19 under (including a round of 64) and all he could do was finish second. Scottie Scheffler even shot a 59 (finishing 17 under overall), and yet it wasn’t enough to get the win.
Lastly, Chicago White Sox first baseman, Jose Abreu, tied a major league record on Sunday with his fourth straight at-bat hitting a home run. It was his sixth homer in the series against the Cubs, but his team still lost 2-1 on Sunday.
Wow, although the weekend was filled with incredible performances, some woke up today realizing their best efforts just weren’t enough.
As discouraging and defeating as it must be for these athletes, this statement is actually freeing when it’s understood in the context of God’s amazing grace.
Even though we’ll never be perfect enough or good enough to earn God’s love and salvation, He gives it to us anyway. Our great accomplishments and impressive good works still leave us falling short, so we must rely on Jesus to redeem us.
Paul explains in Romans 3:20-25 (NLT), "For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with Him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago.
"We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.
"For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past…”
We must realize and remember we aren’t good enough on our own, so let's continue to praise God for sending Jesus to do what we couldn’t do. Now, we rely on His power and strength, instead of our own, and humbly follow His way as He redeems and transforms us.
We do fall short of God’s glorious standard, but we should be glad we can worship and trust a God who is perfect and loves us despite our shortcomings.
He made a way for us to know Him and to be made right in His sight. We can now confidently live with our souls at rest by acknowledging that it's not up to our own efforts.
So whether in life we hit the game-winner...shoot 30 under...miss the shot in overtime...or our putt lips out, so to speak, God’s grace and love cover us because there is always enough!
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are so good and so loving. I’m humbled by Your willingness to save me, despite my sinful heart. I know I'm nothing apart from You and I'm in desperate need of Your grace. Thank you for allowing Jesus to take my place on the cross, so I can rest in His righteousness. In His name, I pray, Amen.Discussion Questions for PACKS:
Why is it important that we embrace the fact that we aren’t enough and do fall short?
As followers of Jesus, why should this understanding give us hope and confidence instead of feeling defeated by our weaknesses and shortcomings?
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