THE HAT-TRICK FOR HOLY LIVING IN AN UNHOLY WORLD
July 24, 2023
THE HAT-TRICK FOR HOLY LIVING IN AN UNHOLY WORLD
"But as it is written, 'Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.' 1 Corinthians 2:9
As I am writing this week’s blog, for all fanatical and ardent football fans, the most wonderful time on the sports calendar is here! FOOTBALL SEASON is back! Professional football (NFL) and Collegiate football (NCAA) seasons are now engaged in their respective pursuits toward the pinnacle of success (The NFL Super Bowl Champion and College football National champion).
For the NFL, training camp and three weeks of preseason will lead up to the 2023 season, which will involve 272 regular contests that will commence on Sept. 7, 2023.
In the National Football League (NFL), no team has ever won 3 consecutive Super Bowls. This is also true for Division 1 FBS College Football.
In the FBS Division 1 College Football, 133 teams will compete for the coveted College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy. The University of Alabama Crimson Tide enjoys the most back-to-back or consecutive National Championships (3) since the start of the modern era in 1936 (1964-65; 1978-79 and 2011-12).
This season, the University of Georgia Bulldogs have an opportunity to score a historic achievement. As a result of winning the last two consecutive national championships (2021-22), the Dogs from Athens (Georgia) are attempting to 3-Peat, also known as lay hold of a Hat-Trick.
Now, for all of you who are not familiar with the term HAT-TRICK, let's look at a definition.
A Hat-Trick is an occurrence when a player scores three times in the same game, particularly in Football, Soccer, and Hockey, or when someone or a sports team is successful at achieving something three times.
Having said that, I submit to you that to be a Champion for Christ and consistently cement ourselves with a conduct that conveys Holiness, we need the spiritual discipline of a Hat-trick. That is, we must be conscientious of what we see, hear, and apply in our hearts. So, the Holy Hat-trick involves our EYES, EARS, and HEARTS.
Our opening passage is often employed at memorial services and applied to heaven; however, the basic application is to the Christian’s pilgrimage and purposes today. You who are familiar with the word of God understand that we are identified as pilgrims in a lost world.
Hebrews 11:13 - "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."
1 Peter 2:11 - "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul."
Therefore, what we deliberately and consistently see with our eyes and hear with our ears and apply in our hearts will reveal if we are passing through as pilgrims or purposely parked in a polluted world.
Join me next time as we purpose to unpack this spiritual concept of committing to a holy hat trick for holy living.
Not a sermon, just some thoughts.
FtGG.