Homepage

 Senior high

 huddle

August Senior High Pep Talk: "Prepared for Action"

Roxanne Robbins

Ready:

"Therefore, get your minds ready for action... "

    1 Peter 1:13

Set:

It was 3 am in Nagano, Japan. With the exception of night-shift employees and straggling partygoers, most people had turned in for the evening. Still remaining on the streets, however, were several members of the 1998 U.S. men's Olympic hockey team, which was in town to compete in the Winter Games.

Comprised entirely of NHL greats, the U.S. team appeared poised for an undeniable gold medal. The team's talent ran so deep that some of the players opted to party all night, trusting they would still dominate the ice the next day (or in their case, the same day). Instead, lack of discipline resulted in a sub-par performance, and the team failed to win. A poor choice made by a few people cost an entire team and a country a trip to the ice hockey Olympic medal rounds.

Lack of self-control can be costly. In this case, it hurt a group of men and tarnished a country's reputation. It was evident to all who witnessed the players' behavior that they had not set their minds fully on their purpose for being at the Winter Games. They were not prepared for action.

As Christians, when we fail to exert self-control, we hinder our walk with God and damage our testimony of faith. To avoid that, we must prepare our minds for action, as Peter suggests. That means, he explains, having self-control and making use of the grace God has given His children. Then, if we are tempted to make bad choices, it will be easier t do what honors God. Following Peter's suggestion will prevent us from being undisciplined players in the game of life.

Go:

Workout:

1. Proverbs 21:31

2. Proverbs 24:27

3. 1 Peter 3:13-17