Daily Diary - February 5th 2016
LEAVE A LEGACY
One thing I have learned about God’s word is its foundation works in all aspects of life. Sports are a great comparison to life’s challenges. This parable about coaching team sports provides opportunity of how we can leave positive value to our youth.
A coach has the ability to influence for a lifetime. We must learn that leaving a negative path of influence will cause damage in youth that will someday have to be dealt with by those individuals. There are consequences in the choices we make.
As coaches it is possible to leave a legacy that is harmful to our players. We are often the most impressionable person in their lives. Some coaching tactics might help us win games and could even help individuals become better players on the field, but this doesn’t mean that the foundation they were rooted in has positive direction for their growth mentally and spiritually for their future.
In Proverbs 22:6 KJV it says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
When you grow in the Lord, you learn that the truth of God becomes clearer. This truth must be the first blocks laid in any foundation for the outcomes to truly be complete!
It goes back to Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
If this scripture is “true,” then we must conclude that seeking God with our team FIRST will cause the result of success on and off the field.
There will be many adverse situations that a team and individuals will face during a season. As coaches, our players watch us when we are tested. The way they see our ability to handle adversity and use it to create character for our future challenges is the example that they will hopefully build upon for the decisions they make in the future.
Winning and losing a game cannot be more relevant than the life lesson that is created by each situation. This is the very reason sports were created in the first place. It is a small sample and example of life through which youth learn to handle adversity.
As coaches we have one legacy to truly leave. We cannot guarantee wins, losses, or championships. They are a result of having the most talent and fundamentals. We can control a foundational legacy spiritually that will last a lifetime!
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
About the Author
Mark Ward
Mark Ward - Mark is a coach, evangelist and motivational speaker that is dedicated to spreading the gospel on multiple platforms which include being the co-founder of CoachesAid.com, Team Spirit Youth Outreach and Churches Aid while being the youth pastor at Harvest Fellowship Church. Part of Mark’s passion is to help Coaches and athletes create an environment that will prepare youth for life beyond sports. Traveling evangelism has become a main part of Mark's focus, where he is dedicated to reach out to all areas that God would provide opportunity to spread the gospel.
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Romans 8:38-39
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
