Photo: Enigma sports

"Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play…it is war minus the shooting."

George Orwell

Courage

There are different types of courage – physical, mental, emotional. Some sports involve an element of physical danger – that demands real physical courage. All of us have trained beyond the point where it hurts – that requires some courage too.

While competing in the marathon in Mexico City, John Akhwari fell, badly cutting his knee and dislocating the joint. He continued running, finishing last and over an hour after the winner. That took great courage.

Executing a game plan can require courage, especially if it is not the game plan with which you are most comfortable. Coaches require courage to make the tough selection call. Officials need courage to enforce the laws, especially if it is a call against the partisan home team.

There are times when great moral courage is required to take a stand for truth. The Zimbabwe cricketers who wore black armbands as a protest against injustice in their country is one example. Helping the officials make a call against your team – by owning up – requires courage.

In some parts of the world just being a Christian puts your life in danger and therefore requires courage daily. Doing the right thing – in life and in sport - always involves courage.

Four times in Joshua chapter 1 we read that God told Joshua : “Be strong and courageous”. Joshua had succeeded Moses as leader and God promised to be with him all the time. Joshua’s part of the bargain was to “be strong and courageous”.

In what area of your life does God want you to be strong and courageous today?

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