Head-Heart-Hands — The Emotional Side of Christianity - Monday
Today’s Verse
Colossians 3:1-2
Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (NIV)
Does the name Zach Tow ring a bell for anyone? If you were at the UK vs LSU men's basketball game a few weeks back, then it should. Zach Tow, a walk-on on the Men's Basketball team at UK, made his court debut with 0.2 seconds left on the clock.
Let’s rewind a bit here. When Mark Pope took the helm of UK Men’s Basketball this past fall, he hosted an open tryout for anyone to compete for the one open walk-on spot on the team. This player would not receive any scholarship and would likely never even receive a jersey. Many jokingly came to the tryout just for fun. But to Zach, this opportunity was more than just “fun.”
Zach, who had played basketball his whole life, only ever dreamed of playing in the blue and white of a Kentucky jersey. When it came time to choose a school, offers to play ball flooded his inbox. Declining offers elsewhere, Zach committed to the University of Kentucky, but not as a basketball player. He would attend as a regular student.
Flash forward, and Zach clinched that walk-on spot. He trained with the team every day,
According to coach Pope,“He came and he battled every single day. Never said a word, never missed a rep, never missed a practice, never was an issue, never asked for anything. Just came and fought every single day.”
He gained the attention of his fellow teammates for his tenacity, dedication, and quiet humility. It was at their request that Zach was presented with his jersey, #20, at the UK vs LSU game, and he hit the court for the first time as a University of Kentucky basketball player.
Zach took every day one at a time. He showed up. His attention never wavered. In the same way, we are called to set our hearts on things above. If we can set our hearts on what Christ has called us to with tenacity and dedication, we will find that those earthly things we cling to no longer matter. What we thought was important now pales in comparison to what Jesus has promised us.
REFLECTION
Zach Tow turned down offers to play ball at other schools for the off chance that he could play at UK. How much easier should it be for us to turn down offers for earthly things when we know how grand the life that Christ has promised us is? Take some time today to thank God for the blessings He has given you and ask Him to help you strive for His goodness, mercy, and love.