BANNED AND GETTING BALD!

February 17, 2006

A U.S. slider is disqualified from the Olympics for taking a drug to grow hair.

THINK ABOUT IT

ZACH LUND WON'T BE COMPETING IN THE OLYMPICS THIS WEEKEND

Zach Lund, of the United States, jumps onto his sled during the men's World Cup skeleton in Calgary, in this Nov. 10, 2005 file photo. Lund has been banned from the Turin Olympics. The Court of Arbitration for Sport decided Friday Feb. 10, 2006 that the American team's top slider should serve a one-year suspension because he ingested a common hair-restoration product that can also be used to mask steroids.The ban goes into effect immediately, and Lund will sit out the Winter Games. AP Photo/Jeff McIntosh, CP)

photo & text courtesy abcnews.com, 02/13/06

TAKE A LOOK

2 Timothy 2:5 - (NLT)

⁵Follow the Lord's rules for doing his work, just as an athlete either follows the rules or is disqualified and wins no prize.

Rules in athletic competition exist for several reasons. They make the competition fair and protect the athletes from injury. Most kinds of games include penalties or fouls as consequences for players when they don't play fair or when they are trying to harm someone from the other team.

In today's verse, Paul makes it clear that we must follow the commands or rules that God has given us. His commands are given to us because He loves us and wants us to win the race He has given us to run.

HOW ARE YOU DOING AT FOLLOWING THE "RULES" GIVEN TO US BY GOD?

Sometimes, the rules don't seem important or fair. I feel bad for Zach Lund - the poor guy just wanted to grow some hair! But he says he should have been aware of the rules.

Are you aware of God's instructions found in His Holy Word? If we don't know them, ignore them, or break them, we too will experience heartbreaking consequences.

Obeying God's rules not only leads to victory, but demonstrates our love for Him.

TALK ABOUT IT

Thank God for giving us rules to live by and please Him. Confess right now any of His instructions in His Word which you know you have been ignoring or breaking. Thank Jesus for providing forgiveness and giving you a clean record! Praise Him for giving you the Holy Spirit's power to get back in the race and obey the rules!

TRY IT

When you look at your hair in the mirror this weekend, let it remind you to always strive to obey God's Word.
Keep a written list of God's "rules" that you know will help you run the "race" for Him. For one month, once a week, as you read God's Word, write down at least one command that you know God wants you to keep.
Pray every day for the Spirit's power to help you live according to God's "rules".
Memorize today's verse.
As you watch the Olympics, let the examples of these amazing athletes motivate you to be an example for Christ.

ABOUT IT

DAILY DEVOS is brought to you by Youth for Christ. Youth for Christ works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.

Byron Emmert Daily Devos is published Monday through Friday. Archives can be found at YFC.ORG. Its purpose is to help you apply truths from God's Word every day.

Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been involved with Youth For Christ for 30 years. He's served as Campus Life Staff, as a writer, and in leadership for the DCLA Conferences. Byron is married to Linda and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, and a daughter in college. He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.