God's Coaching #280

God's Coaching #280

Totally tubular! That’s the best way to describe the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Junior 2010 competition in Bali, Indonesia. The top junior riders were all assembled at Keramas Beach. While the rain and winds didn’t make for great surfing weather, the waves cooperated by pumping out six-footers and all kinds of tubes.

Australian Jack Freestone caught one of the best tubes of the day to rocket out to a huge lead in the finals. Jack jumped up on his board and rode through a hollow tube as water roared all around him. He shot out the end, performed some stunning turns, and earned a 9.57 out of 10. Dale Staples of South Africa nearly pulled out the victory as he caught a tube in the closing moments of the 35-minute final. However, the barrel closed before Dale could escape, and he ended up wiping out.

What’s the Score?

Surfing can be a beautiful sport to watch. The sound of the ocean. The power of the waves. At just 18 years old, Jack was ranked as one of the best up-and-coming surfers in the ASP. He earned $10,000 by riding that perfect tube at Keramas. Dale took home half that amount for second place because his wave swallowed him up.

Waves can be a lot like sin. It looks inviting, but ends up being dangerous. Every sin starts with a temptation. Sometimes we give in to temptation only to be swallowed up. Have you ever been tempted to tell a “little white lie”? It may not seem like a big deal at first. But pretty soon you have to tell another lie to cover up for the first. Eventually, you can be caught in an ocean of lies.

When you find yourself tempted to make a bad decision, turn to God. The Bible says temptations in our lives come from our own evil desires—not from God (James 1:13-14). God is our rock in the middle of temptations. When we hold on to him, we won’t get dragged away by the waves.

On the Ball

What’s a recent temptation you’ve faced? How did you handle it? Did you fight the temptation or get swallowed by it? Tell God that you want to hold on to him when you’re tempted.

Coach’s Comment

Remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. James 1:13-14