Picking up the Pieces

So, yesterday some of my friends were inconsolable while others managed to mourn without shedding a tear. Arsenal lost, against Barcelona, as was expected to some degree. Now they have to focus on the remaining two possible trophies, the FA cup and the Premier League. Standing in their way on both fronts, is a limping giant in Manchester United. Both teams are trying to recover from a string of unpleasant results and have to find the capacity to regain the form that devastated those unfortunate enough to meet them as they destroyed all in their path.
We learn from football about looking at the bigger picture, and the Christian walk is a lot like football. For one, we cannot succeed without working with a team. In the same way that no one can win a football game alone, no Christian can stand alone, we all need others to have any measure of success. Jesus never sent out the disciples on solo projects, they were in minimums of two. We can also learn from the fans that football clubs and players have, that Hebrews 12:1 is very accurate on the need for support. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.
Footballers who have the gift but not the discipline lead very tumultous lives and don't perform to the best of their potential. It is similar with gifted believers. It is not enough to be talented or gifted, we must stay focused on the Giver more than we focus on the gift. I still believe that He is more interested in our hearts than our hands, although our hands are also important in accomplishing Kingdom Agenda on earth.
So, just as Arsenal and Manchester United have to pick themselves up after their respective defeats and aim towards the awaiting crowns, we as believers in Jesus must dust ourselves off when we fall and follow hard after the Master. He knew we would fall, nothing gets Him off-guard, that's why He provided grace. He is willing and able to restore us and to continue working in us. Don't stay where you are, you are not cemented in your current situation, rise up and walk!