Walking By Faith, The Big Picture

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***TODAY'S DEVOTIONAL IS DEDICATED TO PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL COACH TONY DUNGY. NOT FOR ANYTHING COACH DUNGY HAS ACCOMPLISHED ON THE FIELD, BUT FOR THE WAY HE HAS LIVED HIS LIFE OFF THE FIELD. COACH DUNGY WALKS BY FAITH EACH DAY, AND ALLOWS THAT FAITH TO BE MANIFESTED IN HIS DAY TO DAY LIFE. IT IS AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL CHRISTIANS TO FOLLOW.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL THURSDAY JANUARY 17, 2002
(2 Corinthians 5:7)

We live by faith, not by sight.

Walking by faith, the big picture. For those who follow sports, you know that this past Monday Coach Tony Dungy was let go as the coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers professional football team. The Devotional today in his honor is not about sports, but about our brief journey here on earth and the example his life has been to so many. Tony's chosen profession in life is that of a football coach. Very few coaches in professional sports, no matter how successful they have been, leave on their own terms. Most are dismissed at some point. That is the profession Tony Dungy works in, and as a coach, he understands and accepts that fact as part of his profession. However for Tony, the most important things in his life are first his faith, second his family, and THAN his chosen profession.

In the intense spotlight and big dollars of professional sports, there are a very few who rise to the pinnacle to coach these professional teams. In this environment, winning games is not enough, you must win championships. Those few people at this level understand this fact better than anyone else. But Tony Dungy understood the BIG PICTURE, and the fact he has a higher calling on his life above being the coach of a professional sport team. Coach Dungy was never shy about using his public forum to share his faith in Jesus Christ. In the Tampa Bay community where he has lived the last 6 years, he will be remembered as much for his off the field contributions to this community as for his many on field triumphs. Tony Dungy understood that while his profession was coaching professional football, his CALLING was that of every Christian, to glorify and serve the Lord with his life.

When Coach Dungy was fired Monday night, there was a perfect peace and calm about him. During his post-firing press conference, a peaceful countenance. THAT IS BECAUSE TONY UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS LIFE IS NOT HIS OWN! Coach Dungy understands that in this life, we will have trials, and even tribulations, but that the one in whom we have placed our faith, Jesus Christ, has overcome all of the trials and tribulations of this world. Tony walks by faith, NOT by sight, and understands that for every door God closes, a new one will be opened. He UNDERSTANDS that God has a plan and purpose for his life. When we accept the Lord as our savior, it is NOT our life any longer. It belongs to HIM!. In the course of our life, God may place us in one place for a specific plan and purpose which we may never fully understand, and than move us somewhere else. When we are fully and unconditionally surrendered to Him, we go where He sends us, we do what He asks, and we walk through what most see as problems with a perfect peace because we know that God is in charge!

From the thousands of emails I get daily, I know that many of you today are dealing with losing your job. Tony Dungy is very fortunate. He has risen to the top of his profession, and since he is under contract for one more year, will walk away after being fired with a check for several million dollars to fulfill his contract. I have no doubt that very soon, he will get a new head coaching position that will pay him several million dollars. Sadly, most who are fired or let go have trouble cashing their last paycheck. Most have little savings and being without employment for any period of time puts them in serious debt. When they do get a new job, it may not be at a very good wage. For those of you who are in this situation, have lost your job, in one way you are NO DIFFERENT than Coach Dungy. Your faith does not tell you to lay in bed, and wait on a knock on your door from an employer who will give you a great job. NO!!! If coach Dungy wants to continue to coach professional football teams, he must get out and start knocking on doors and contacting prospective employers about hiring him. YOU MUST DO THE SAME THING! Our faith does not guarantee us anything in this life. What it DOES guarantee us is that if we put our faith into action, get out there, God will open the right doors!!!

I love you and care about you so much. I pray today that you will take some time today to pray for Coach Dungy. Not so much for his future coaching position, but that wherever God moves him, He will use him in a great way in that community as He did in the Tampa Bay area. The lesson we can learn from Coach Dungy is one of priorities. Our faith first and always. Our family. Our profession. THAT is where the calm, the peace comes from. Our goal each day is to fulfill the reason God has given us this life, and that is to serve and glorify Him the best we can. As we live our life before others, and never forget that I always tell you.... how you live your life speaks 10x louder than all the words you say.... we fulfill that purpose. We don't allow the trials in life to upset us, since we know that God is on His throne, and in TOTAL control of all things. We accept His challenges of change in our life, since it presents us with new opportunities to share our faith in Him. The Bible tells us to "seek first the Kingdom of God". It goes on to say that "all these things will be added to you". What things? The day to day necessities of life. God understands that we need food, clothing, and shelter. God understands the basics necessities of life. HE HAS PROMISED TO MEET THOSE BASIC NEEDS IF WE WILL SIMPLY SEEK FIRST... HIS KINGDOM.

I pray today that we can all learn something from the life of Tony Dungy. That we can all get the peace that passes all human understanding Coach Dungy has. Not because of any riches or success that he has attained in this life, but because of his bedrock faith in Christ. Our peace, our fulfillment in this life does NOT come from success in this word, but from the understanding that our faith is in the risen Savior!!!! Coach Tony Dungy gets the big picture, and his success is NOT in whatever he does on a football field, but what he does each and every day in living his life for Christ. I challenge you today to step back, look at the big picture, and realize that God has NOT raised you up to do things this world deems as great, but to do things GOD deems as great. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Help those who are less fortunate. Be a beacon of hope to the lost. That is living a life pleasing and acceptable to Him, and allowing Him to use your life ....just as He has the life of Tony Dungy.

In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at bkeller@liveprayer.com.

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