COMMENTARY

Don Atkin

PREPARING TO SUCCEED

"Everybody has a will to win. What’s far more important is having the will to prepare to win." – Bobby Knight, former basketball coach at Indiana University.

This is so applicable to the Christian life. Everyone has a will to achieve his destiny. What’s far more important is having the will to prepare to achieve our destiny.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:10.

God did not just will good works, He prepared good works for us to walk in!

As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God. New birth gives us the right to become, but not the guarantee that we will receive the inheritance as sons.

Anything that is worthwhile is costly. Jesus’ parable in Luke 14:7-24, and His specific conclusions in verses 25-35, give us some clarity regarding the cost of discipleship. Becoming disciples, and discipling others, are the only ethical responses to His Great Commission.

The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. A disciple is a Christian. A Christian must be a disciple. Authentic Christianity demands preparing people for the good works for which God has designed them ~ and prepared for them to do.

Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers have not been given to the church to build their own success. They have been given to prepare the saints for works of service!

If you are not being prepared to fulfill your destiny, do what you must to find someone who will invest his life in you, so that you may succeed in your calling and purpose.

Jesus prayed, I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You gave Me to do. – John 17:4.

Do you have the will to pray that prayer someday?

Do you have the will to prepare?

So many live their lives in the audience, and never get into the game!