The Good, Bad And Ugly Of Consistency – Friday

Week 2 | Jesus Gets Us

Listen instead of reading

Take a Moment

Ask God what He wants to show you before reading today

Read The Daily

Jesus replied, “Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people[e] gather. I have not spoken in secret (John 18:20)

I have loved coaching football for the last 20 plus years.  You realize you have had so many different types of personalities and abilities over the years, but there’s a few things that seem to stand the test of time.  At the very top is consistency.  I once heard the winningest coach in NCAA men’s soccer history say that if he had to choose between a player who would be a “nine” one game and then a “four” the next, and a player who was consistently a “seven,” he would take the “seven” every day of the week.  But, there’s also a good, bad and ugly to consistency.  

If you are a parent or spouse that consistently shows up and tries to give effort daily as a spouse, parent, etc. then the people you care about most will thank you the least.  It’s just human nature.  We can look at this as discouraging, but I think it’s actually great news every time I think I’m not being noticed.  It actually means that I’ve been so consistent that everyone expects that from me.  When I first started speaking at churches as a 17 year old kid, everyone would make sure they told me how proud and great I was doing.  It may not have even be true, but people in these older churches weren’t expecting to see a teenager or maybe they just felt sorry for me.  As you continue doing it week in and week out, you know what happens?  Nobody really says anything.  By the way, I told my kids that same story this week and how because I’ve gotten better, people no longer compliment me.  They said, maybe I’m not be complimented because I’m not very good too lol.  Maybe they’re right.  

When Jesus was being questioned about His teachings and His disciples by the high priest after His arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, He responded, “I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question Me? Ask those who heard Me. Surely they know what I said.” Jesus’ words never changed, He was consistent with His message, His teaching and His conversations, whether in the synagogue or in the upper room with His disciples.

Leadership expert John Maxwell said in his book The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, pg. 73, “Small disciplines repeated with consistency every day lead to great achievements gained slowly over time.”  Consistency is the greatest thing we can do but it’s also going to be the most unappreciated thing you’ll do. 

Prayer for the Day

God what are you  showing me?  What am I going to do about it? 

God help me to see one person that I can serve through a kind word, random act of kindness, or simple gift today?

Make sure you complete the reading or comment today.

Read The New Testament In A Year

4 x 6 Plan | Read: Matthew 11:1-19 & Romans 8:13-30