ONE: FCA Reading Plan For CompetitorsSample

One Passion

By Sarah Roberts

Ready: 

“We love each other because he loved us first.” 1 John 4:19 

Set: 

Eric Liddell was and Olympic athlete and extremely passionate about his sport. He was quoted as saying "God made me fast and when I run I feel his pleasure." Although he loved running his passion for God was greater. In the 1924 Paris Summer Olympics, Lidell refused to run in the 100 meters in which he was favored because they were on a Sunday. His personal obedience to God was greater than his need of acceptance by the world.   He ran the 400 meters and won. He ran for One…the ONE TRUE GOD. 

The passion he had for God was because of the love He knew His God had for him. Passion and Love go hand in hand.  Lidell showed his passion for God when he ran. God showed his love for us when he lived....and died. God is passionate about us because of the love he has for us! 

Go:

1. When you play the game you love, do you feel God is pleased?
2. As an athlete, it can be so easy to play for the acceptance of others…how freeing would it be if you had nothing to prove and only One to please? 
3. How do you show love and passion for the game you play?
4. How does the passion for the game you play compare to the love you have for God? 

Workout:

Zephaniah 3:17

John 3:16

1 John 4:9

Overtime:

Dear Lord, thank you for loving me. I know it because of the love and passion you have for me that you died for my sins. Help me to love the way you love in all that I do. May I live full of Passion for you, my Lord and Savior.