KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE

•    Olympic gold medalist penalized due to teammate’s doping
•    what is a believer’s main prize / medal?
•    victor’s crown: blessing of relationship with God

THE ABSORPTIVE LIFESTYLE

•    Mexico border wall: example of “make the other guy pay”
•    if want God’s forgiveness, need to be forgiving others ourselves
•    harsh outcome for unmerciful servant in parable
•    Hebrew ‘checed’ / mercy: identification in others’ suffering

UNDOPED DELIGHT

•    pure: clean, sincere, free from corruption, kathartic
•    can’t serve two masters
•    Kierkegaard: purity of heart = to will one will
•    love God –> Trinity “at home” with you

PAYING THE PRICE FOR PEACE

•    lingering grudges/bitterness give devil a foothold
•    be the first to initiate ‘making up’
•    Jesus Himself our peace: killed Jew/Gentile hostility
•    bleeding (absorbing cost) precedes blessing (peace)
•    loving enemies something Heavenly Father would do

REJOICE WHEN RIDICULED

•    insults, persecution, false slander – setup for blessing/rejoicing
•    persecuted for righteousness / because of Jesus
•    different from those who will their own will

COUNTER THE CULTURE

•    culture blesses selfishness: achievers, self-fulfilled, powerful, unrestrained, etc.