ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary, “Lance” details the career of Lance Armstrong. He is best known for overcoming cancer and returning to professional cycling the following year in 1997. He was able to win his first Tour De France in 1999, which led to the most successful career of any cyclist in history. He won the Tour De France seven times.

Despite all his success, Armstrong’s career was filled with controversy. Whether it was his dominance of the cycling world or his constant use of performance-enhancing drugs that led to his being stripped of his seven Tour de France victories, the documentary about his life showed that he was motivated by his lust for money, fame, and winning at all costs.

It’s not uncommon for coaches and athletes to be driven by worldly motivations. Wes Neal called these “natural motivational forces.” Natural motivational forces have accounted for great victories over the years. However, they have also been responsible for great agony and crushing defeats. Although much can be written about the positive results of natural motivational forces, much can be written about the problems they have caused.

Romans 12 – Express Your Love

Paul provides a greater motivational force than any of the world’s natural motivational forces. Romans 12:1 provides the biblical foundation for the motivational force God wants us to use. Here’s an athletic paraphrase of Romans 12:1 from Wes Neal’s Handbook on Athletic Perfection.

“I urge and encourage you, (insert your name), because of what God accomplished for you when Jesus Christ died on the cross, to place your athletic abilities at God’s disposal throughout your athletic performance. Allow God, through the Holy Spirit, to control your attitudes and actions. This not only will be acceptable to Him, but it is the most logical way you can express your love to God tangibly while competing.” (Athletic Paraphrase of Romans 12:1)

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete see competition as an opportunity to express their love for God and what He has done for them.

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 – Do not be wise in your own mind. Never paying back evil for evil to anyone, respecting what is good in the sight of all men, if possible, so far as it depends on you, being at peace with all men. Romans 12:16b-18

Click HERE for the Kingdom Sports Minute on Indignation