If you've been following the Olympics this year you have probably heard the name Matthew Dawson.
Dawson is a member of the Australian men's hockey team.
He broke the ring finger of his right hand in the lead-up to this year's Olympic games. This could have caused him to not be able to participate.
But Dawson was determined to be a part of the Olympics that he had spent his whole life preparing for.
He had two choices. He could not play or he could have the affected part of his finger removed and play. He chose to have that part of his finger removed.
“I made an informed decision with the plastic surgeon at the time not only for the opportunity to play in Paris but for life after as well,” Dawson told 7NEWS. “The best option was for me to take the top of my finger off. It’s a bit of a change at the moment and an exciting challenge, I guess.”I didn’t have much time to make the decision. I had made the decision and then I called my wife, and she said, ‘I don’t want you to make a rash decision, but I had all the information I needed to make the decision not for Paris but for life after. Hopefully, I can not take too long to get back to form', he added'."
His coach, Colin Batch, said Dawson's decision showed an incredible display of commitment.
“Dawson is back in training now. He's made that decision and he is obviously really committed to playing in Paris,” Batch stated.
I'd say so. I mean "wow." Having part of your finger amputated to be able to play shows a high, high commitment level.
I am reminded of these verses in Matthew 18.
"If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell."
Is this passage reminding us of the deep commitment it takes to follow Christ? When Jesus tells us to pluck out our eye or cut off our hand, He is using a figure of speech known as hyperbole. A hyperbole is an overstatement and is not meant to be taken literally.
But it does help expose just how committed we are to our walk with Christ.
I am always blown away when I read about Paul's commitment to reaching people. Look what He says in Romans 9.
"I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit—I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel."
Paul was so committed to reaching people, that he says he would be willing to be cut off from Christ so they could be saved.
Just how committed are you to reaching kids and families? God is not asking you to cut off part of your finger...that would be weird.
But He is asking you to...
show up on time...
be prepared and ready to teach the kids He has placed in your life...
pray for the kids and families you minister to...
be faithful...
share the Gospel with the kids and families He has called you to reach...
Is doing these things an extreme commitment?
I would say "no." Not if you compare it to cutting off part of your finger. Right?
But God is asking you and I to be committed...extremely committed to reaching and discipling kids and families.
How deep does your commitment run?
