Thankful, Yet Not Satisfied

Of all the surprises in the second round of the NBA Playoffs, perhaps none has been more unexpected and dramatic than the New York Knicks' back-to-back improbable rallies in Boston to take a 2-0 series lead over the Celtics.

As the reigning champs, many people expected the Celtics to use their combination of talent and experience to cruise past the Knicks. And for much of both Games 1 and 2, it appeared like Boston was poised to do just that.

In the first two matchups, Boston held a 20-point lead in the second half, with analytics giving the Celtics a greater than 98% chance of winning each game.

But despite the odds, New York managed to fight back in a hostile environment to take an unexpected 2-0 lead in the series as it transitioned to the Big Apple.

Not surprisingly, most Knicks fans are euphoric about the team's performance in the first two games and optimistic about its prospects for the remainder of the series.

Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, however, has a much more reserved and sober perspective about New York's current situation.

When asked by a reporter what it means to him to be heading back home with a 2-0 series lead, Towns responded, "It means we're up two-zip. It doesn't really mean anything…We gotta find ourselves executing at a higher level. We can't keep doing these 20-point leads for Boston and hope to come back and win the game. We gotta play better. We gotta shoot better. We gotta execute better. We can't start having that kind of Knicks basketball being played down 20."

Ultimately, it's safe to assume that Towns prefers a 2-0 series lead over the alternative option. Even so, we should appreciate that he recognizes the team still needs to improve on many issues if they wish to advance to the Conference Finals, and that he is not simply content with the results.

This sort of attitude from Towns is undoubtedly appropriate. If the Knicks get complacent because of their series lead and fail to address some of the problems that led to the 20-point deficits in Games 1 and 2, the Celtics are still more than capable of coming back and winning the series.

The Knicks should appreciate where they are currently while fighting for continued improvement and growth.

As followers of Jesus, one of our greatest temptations is the pull towards complacency.

Regarding our character and spiritual maturity, we go through seasons where the "wins" seem to pile up. In those times, we may find that obedience comes more easily, temptation occurs less frequently, and our faith is more vibrant overall.

While it is appropriate for us to celebrate those times and the growth that God has worked in our lives, we also need to ensure that we don't allow those "victories" to turn us towards complacency.

No matter how much "success" we have had in the past, we must remember that we always have room for growth and improvement and should strive towards greater levels of obedience and maturity.

In 1 Peter 1:5-8 (ESV), the Apostle Peter encourages believers with these words: "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Interestingly, Peter says we are "ineffective or unfruitful" if we do not increase the character traits he listed. In other words, when we get complacent and stop striving for growth, we become ineffective in our faith.

The Apostle Paul demonstrated what it looks like to have an attitude always desiring to grow and mature in the Lord. In Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV), he wrote, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

As followers of Jesus, we must recognize that falling into complacency in our walk of faith doesn't simply mean stagnation but that we are in a prime position to backslide and fall into sin.

When we let our guard down and start congratulating ourselves for the "victories" we have achieved, it usually means setting ourselves up for failure.

1 Corinthians 10:12 (NASB) says, "Therefore let the one who thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall."

Today, let's take time to praise and thank God for the growth He has helped us work on in our lives as we rest in His grace. At the same time, let's also ensure we hunger for and strive for continued growth and aren’t complacent with the "wins" we have accumulated thus far.

I'm Matt Osborne, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for saving me and conforming me into Your Son's image. Thank you for all the ways You have helped me grow to become more like Jesus. Please help me to continue to look to You for grace and strength to mature and grow in godliness so that You may be glorified. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.