Most athletes and coaches will be honored for something they have accomplished. It might be an individual or team award, but for that moment, the spotlight shines brightly on them. Few athletes have let their silence do the talking more than Lou Gehrig. He was the record-breaking first baseman who played for the Yankees from 1923 to 1939. He played in a then-record 2,130 games and won the Triple Crown in 1934. The Yankees won the World Series six times when he played for them. When he did use words, he turned the spotlight on others.

“Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got (he later died from ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth. I have been in ballparks for 17 years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remembers you with trophies—that’s something.”

Mark 11 – Be Humble

Mark 11 marks the shift to Jesus’ ministry in Jerusalem, where He becomes the center of the triumphal entry into the city, which demonstrated Jesus’ humble nature and divine mission. Choosing to ride on a donkey rather than a warhorse showed that Jesus was a humble servant. He no longer told His disciples to be quiet about Him being their King and Messiah. However, the people cheered Jesus not because they recognized Him as their Savior from sin but because they thought He would lead a revolt against Rome. Jesus refused to be swayed by the crowd, who would soon reject them as their hero.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete receive honor and awards with humility rather than placing attention on their own accomplishments. They turn away from the applause and toward God, who can use the moment for His purposes.

Journaling helps you understand and respond to the Bible. As you journal, use the acronym HEAR to Highlight, Explain, Apply, and Respond to what you have read in the reading plan.

Bible Memory Verse – “And sitting down, He [Jesus] called the twelve and said to them, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.‘” Mark 9:35 LSB

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