GETTING TO WHERE YOU DESIRE

For years I’ve been an avid fan of University of Kentucky basketball.  I am a UK alumnus (following my Asbury University days) and I derive great enjoyment watching the UK Wildcats each season.  But it is only recently that I’ve paid attention to how the coach, John Calipari, gets his job done.   Two principles resonate with truth in his coaching:  (1) His highly talented, highly sought after recruits are not perfect.  They are wonderfully talented, even gifted athletically, but not perfect in individual play nor as a team.  However, in the words of Coach Calipari, they are “being perfected.”  (2) Being perfected means “continuous improvement.”   It’s not a matter of flipping the switch and BAM, perfection.  It’s all about hard work on their part following the lead of the coach, listening to him, making adjustments, faithfully striving for improvement every day, continuously.  When he does his part as coach and they do their part, there is continuous improvement.  Being perfected requires it.  Calipari’s principles have powerful implications for so many areas of life, but never more than in a person’s spiritual journey.

It is a cliché, but life is a journey, a spiritual one. Under the coaching of the Spirit, we can experience continuous maturity and growth into the likeness of Christ. God is steadfastly faithful.  He will do his part, but asks us to do ours.  By the work of the Holy Spirit,  God can continually shape a life into the likeness of Christ, but only if we do our part is there continuous improvement. 

But there's more.  Being perfected and continuous improvement were principles that Jesus taught and practiced with his disciples as he coached them, and yet as they were being formed, there came a day when they were filled to the measure of the fulness of  God at Pentecost.  If the likeness of Christ and the fulness of God is what we hope for, we can be continually on our way to our heart's desire being perfected in holiness and righteousness.  Thanks be to God!