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GIVING THANKS

Psalms 118:1 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.

Have you ever viewed a sporting event and a participant seemed to forget where they were and just point toward the heavens? How about after the contest, during the interview, the person begins by giving "all praises and honor" to some spiritual being? Is this annoying or what? Why can't they just act like they have been there before and go to the sideline?

What is more amazing is some among us think that the athlete is out of order. God is responsible for every good and decent thing. It might be understandable to the losing team or the player who got "served" that this is not a good or decent thing, but the beneficiary needs to give thanks to the one who allowed the situation to take place. Psalms 118 is the exact center of the Bible. The preceding chapter is the shortest in the Bible, while Psalms 119 is the longest. That makes this verse the perfect center of God's Word. If a person is to expect continued blessings from the Lord, they must understand who to give thanks to for their success. He obviously placed them in a position to succeed. He also gave them the ability to accomplish all things leading up to the particular moment.

It is important to know the difference between ability and skill. Ability is God given and is essential to some of the athletic prowess. This does not diminish skill which is achieved through practice and hard work, but all the practice in the world will not increase my leaping ability or speed to a professional level. Mercy is unmerited favor and totally at the discretion of His will. So the next time you see what seems like an intrusion on your right to not spiritually celebrate with an athlete, o give thanks to the Lord that you were able to witness the event because of His mercy.

                                                                                                                         Fred Tudor

Fred Tudor is a eighteen year employee of the Cincinnati Public Schools as a Health and Physical Education teacher. He has been coaching at the high school level in Greater Cincinnati since graduating from Wittenberg University in 1979. His coaching stints includes stops at his alma mater Walnut Hills High School, Hughes Center High School, and from 1990 until present coaches at Wyoming High School. His church home is Cincinnati Bibleway Church in Madisonville, Apostles James and Grace Blue Pastors.

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