READY: “For His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.”
– 2 Peter 1:3

SET: “We’ve always felt he had that big-play potential. A couple of weeks ago, his potential started turning into production,” said University of Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley about running back Rashard Mendenhall. Mendenhall’s production of over 150 yards of total offense has helped the 2007 Fighting Illini knock off Top 25 teams in consecutive weeks, launching them to a 5-1 start and into the rankings for the first time since 2001.

As competitors we each have a certain amount of God-given talent, or potential, in sports. What we do with that potential is up to us. Even though we don’t all have the same potential we can all still successfully produce if we, as John Wooden says, “do our best to become the best we are capable of becoming.”

Jesus illustrates the relationship between potential and production on several occasions in the Bible. In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) we see three men who have the potential to help another who has been beaten and robbed, yet only one turns it into production. Again we find three men with potential in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), where two use their potential to produce for their master, but the other buries his potential. The point we must understand is that throughout Scripture it is those who turn their potential into production by living out their faith (loving God and loving others) who are commended by God.

If you have surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, know that you have everything you need to live a life pleasing to Him today (2 Peter 1:3). Now it’s time to turn that potential into production.

GO:
1. What does it mean for you to “produce” as a competitor? How about as a Christian?
2. What is one thing you can do to increase your level of production in and out of competition?
3. Read 2 Peter 1:1-11. What does this say about living a productive life for God?

WORKOUT:
Luke 3:7-14
John 15:1-8
James 2:14-17

OVERTIME:
“For if these qualities are yours and are increasing,
they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful
in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 1:8

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Josh Carter is a former athlete and coach who currently serves on staff with FCA in Illinois. He has a new sports devotional book out called "Running 2 Win 4 Him - Be The Competitor God Made You To Be." You can purchase a copy at crosstrainingpublishing.com.

Now it's your Turn. Write your own FCA Devotional. . . Go to www.fca.org and click the "Submit your own FCA devo!" link on the right side.

In Jesus' name, Amen.