Genesis 32:31 “And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.”
Jack Dempsey competed in the professional Boxing arena from 1914 to 1927. He held the title WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION from 1919 to 1926. One of his ring nick names was, “Manassa Mauler”. He once said, “A champion is someone who gets up when he can’t.” One of my favorite scenes in Scripture, is Jacob of old, after an all night wrestling match with Heaven, seeing the sun rise in the eastern sky and he limps into his last remaining days, HURTING BUT STILL HAVING THE HEART TO HOBBLE ON! This famous Bible character could “play hurt”. There are 3 hurts you will have to learn to play through in life, if you ever expect to get much playing time.
1. THE HURT OF BURDENS.
You might as well learn to accept it now, young person, as one lives on this blue marble called “earth”, there is going to be a load of care that you must carry, if you expect to be used of God in a great way. I’ve never know anyone to be a tremendous instrument in the hand of God, who didn’t carry a terrific weight, and they also are the same ones who NEVER TALK ABOUT IT. WHINING WON’T GET YOU IN THE STARTING LINEUP! GAME TIME MEANS PLAYING HURT FROM BURDENS!
2. THE HURT OF BRETHREN WHO WON’T BELIEVE IN YOU.
You will find that not everyone who will cross your path, is going to say a heartfelt, “AMEN!” to all you set out to do for God and good. So be kind, don’t let it slow you down or stop you and set out to make them wish one day they had believed in you. Turn their negativity into the fuel that drives you on. GAME TIME MEANS PLAYING HURT FROM BRETHREN WHO WON’T BELIEVE IN YOU!
3. THE HURT OF BATTLES.
You are going to have all out World War III with the world, the flesh and the devil in your Christian life, if you are going to do something great for God as a teenager and later as an adult. Keep in mind, your battle scars here will be turned into bright crowns in the HEREAFTER. GAME TIME MEANS PLAYING HURT FROM BATTLES!
Evangelist John Hamblin
http://www.evangelistjohnnhamblin.com/meet.htm
