You've got to want it

Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:38-39)

This fall I've had a chance to be assistant soccer coach at the high school, and I've been learning a lot from the players and from the coaching team. One phrase that has been ringing in my ears through some hard-fought games is, "You've got to want it!"

Coaching is an odd combination of encouragement and challenge. We love those kids and are proud of them, even when the scoreboard doesn't show success. We are there to support them and help them have fun. At the same time, we try to spur them on to greater efforts. Practice by practice, game by game, half by half, play by play, we notice a difference between a pumped-up team and one that comes out flat. So we scream from the sidelines, "You've got to want it!"

As I read Jesus' teachings, there's an odd combination between encouragement and challenge. The Kingdom of God is a Reign of Grace, where Jesus brings hope and healing to the poor and needy. At the same time, Jesus challenges his followers to take up their cross, to lay down their life, to turn their back on family and wealth, to count the cost. He's a loving Savior giving us a gift we could never earn, yet he's also the one screaming from the sidelines, "You've got to want it!"

He's a loving Savior giving us a gift we could never earn, yet he's also the one screaming from the sidelines, "You've got to want it!"

Evidently, the Kingdom life that God wants for us is kind of like playing sports: we get more out of it when we give it our all. Jesus' unconditional love comes to us at our lowest point, and that same love spurs us on to climb higher than we ever thought we could reach. Jesus tells stories about hidden treasures and pearls of great price, something so precious that we gladly give our all. He wants us to leave it all on the field.

You've got to want it. Enough to spend a little more time praying, or to contribute a little more energy and money to the cause you believe in. You've got to want it enough to endure hardship so you can learn patience, enough to serve others so you can learn compassion. Enough to care about yourself a little less and your teammates (neighbors) a little more.

Every Sunday in our 10 a.m. worship service, we spur one another on to love and good deeds, seeking the presence of God to coach us in our lives for God. If you want it, come join us in putting in the work. And if you'd like a chance to learn about the Bible with a small group, come for our Sunday 9 a.m. Sunday School, or our Wednesday 6 p.m. Bible study.

--Jonathan