God's Coaching #124

God's Coaching #124

Think of great athletes. Who comes to mind? Maybe LeBron James, Michael Phelps, Peyton Manning, or Lance Armstrong? Probably not Calvin Borel. What? You’ve never heard of Calvin Borel?

Calvin was as dominant in horse racing as the Los Angeles Lakers were in basketball. He was the jockey who rode three of the four Kentucky Derby winners between 2006 and 2010. The horses he rode—Street Sense, Mine That Bird, and Super Saver—might be better known than Calvin. Weighing in at 110 pounds, Calvin was tougher pound for pound than any other athlete out there. A jockey’s job requires mental skill, physical strength, and a willingness to take great risks. Jockeys plunge their horses into the pack of 1,000-pound beasts stampeding at 35 miles per hour. Talk about toughness.

Calvin’s skills and accomplishments should be enough to put him into discussions of the greatest athletes of all time. But most people have never heard of him. Whether he gets all the glory or none, we can learn a lot from an athlete like Calvin. His lack of fame doesn’t erase his greatness.

What’s the Score?

Now think about heroes of the Christian faith. Who comes to mind? Abraham, David, Peter, and Paul? Probably not Jephthah. Who? Jephthah is the great warrior and leader who ruled as a judge.

You can find Jephthah’s story in Judges 11–12. And even though others may have forgotten his greatness, God did not. Jephthah is recognized alongside Gideon and Samuel (1 Samuel 12:11) as well as Samson, David, and all the prophets (Hebrews 11:32). God counted Jephthah as one of the greats of faith. He ruled with justice and trusted God. “By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them” (Hebrews 11:33). Those heroes of faith included Jephthah.

On the Ball

List the people who have had the biggest impact on your life. Then think again about whom you might have forgotten—someone who has made a huge contribution to your life but has done it more quietly. E-mail or text that person to say thank you.

Coach’s Comment

By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. Hebrews 11:33