...........ours

I watched the new high school football coach at our local high school work an amazing transformation. Before he took over, playing our team meant an almost automatic win for the other team. After the new coach came and made his mark, our team almost always went to the state championship.

Our sons can tell you one reason why, because they played for him on some of those teams. He used to run some very grueling practices - but he told them he was building a "fourth quarter team" - a team that had the endurance to finish strong when their opponents were fading. And you could count on our team dominating the final quarter of the game - they knew how decisive it would be, and they were prepared to give it all. In fact, at the end of the third quarter, the players would pump each other up with this familiar war cry - "Fourth quarter! It's ours!"

Champions are strong fourth quarter players - in sports, and in life. We're talking about responsibilities and challenges that require a lot of perseverance ... where victory requires giving more when you feel like giving up. And maybe you're in one of those "fourth quarter" situations right now. And God is calling you to finish strong.

Like the Apostle Paul did, as recorded in 2 Timothy 4, beginning with verse 5. He's had every reason to quit - persecution, imprisonment, beatings, exhaustion, and abandonment. And now he is writing what will be his final words before his execution by Caesar. He's calling Timothy to a championship finish - like he's doing.

He says - to him and to us - "Be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith." A statement like that makes us ask, "Am I a finisher - or am I just a starter? Have I left behind me in my life a lot of things I started but I didn't finish?"

Paul then looks ahead to what's at the finish line for all who complete the course that God has given them - he says, "In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord ... will award to me on that day." Sadly, those who quit before the game was over will never know the rewards that only the finishers can enjoy.

So now, maybe at a time when you have so many reasons to slack off, to quit... when you've already played hard for a long time, listen to God saying, "Do not be weary in well doing, for in due time you will reap if you do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)

Be a fourth quarter husband or wife

... a fourth quarter mom or dad

... a fourth quarter friend or worker or leader ...

Be a follower of Jesus who refuses to slack off, to slow down, to head for the showers, to give up.

fter how long the game has been, and how hard it's been, maybe your strength is giving out, but God's strength belongs to the weak and the weary - and His strength can carry you all the way to the finish line. So shout it with all of God's champions - "It's the fourth quarter! It's ours!"

-steve blair