Monday, May 18th, 2009 "The Total Package"

Tsunami Ministries Devotional by Steve Keaton

Monday, May 18^th, 2009

Title: The Total Package

Text: Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Back in the day, while growing up in Charlotte, my buddies and I would often get together on Saturday mornings and watch professional wrestling. As I think back on those days it is always fun to remember some of the old timers that we’d get so excited to see. Guys like “The American Dream”, Dusty Rhodes, Rowdy Roddy Piper, and of course the guy who was everyone’s favorite, “The Nature Boy”, Ric Flair. But there was one other wrestler that we all knew could beat anyone at any time. This wrestler was a lean, mean wrestling machine and the fact of the matter is he was one bad man. His name was Lex Lugar.

Lex was certainly one of the best in the business and definitely won far more matches than we lost. This guy was one of the great champions in professional wrestling history. Because of Lugar’s muscular build, speed, quickness and the understanding that he would never quit, no matter the odds, the announcers gave him the name, “The Total Package”. Why? Lex Lugar had everything a wrestler needed to be the best. And Lex Lugar used it all to be the best.

As I sit here today thinking about my life as a Christ-Follower, I have to ask myself one very serious question. Am I The Total Package? Now of course I’m not asking if I am one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. Don’t be silly. Of course we all know the answer to that question. Don’t we? No, when I ponder that question I do so in the light of whether or not I not only posses all of the qualities it takes to be the person that God desires me to be in this world, but also, am I using those qualities to do what I am called to do?

I have no doubt that God has blessed each of us with all of the attributes needed to shine brightly, meet the needs of the least and the lost, stand firm in our faith in the face of opposition, and positively impact this world in the name of Christ. But, the true test is whether or not we are using all the amazing and powerful gifts that our gracious and loving God has blessed us with. Are we each the Total Package for God in the world we live in? Do we each love our neighbor with the same unconditional love that God has for them? Do we live our lives with a contagious joy that makes others want what we have? Are we the peace makers of our world, or do we find conflict at every turn? Do we show the same patience with others that God has so lovingly shown each of us? Is an authentic spirit of kindness, goodness and faithfulness something that others see beaming brilliantly from our lives? Are we each gentle yet strong enough to embrace the person that God has created us to be and then share our relationship with God to the world? And do we each utilize the control of our bodies, minds and mouths to build up instead of tear down? In other words, are we The Total Package for God? If the answer to each of those questions is yes, the yes we are God’s Total Package in this world. But to truly obtain that title we must understand that we have to have and use all pieces to make us whole.

So, join me in striving to be the person that God has planned for each of us to become. Let’s sincerely work to live a life that is evident of our passion for God. And maybe, just maybe, when others think about the Godly, loving and servant-minded example we have set, they will refer to us as “The Total Package”.

Something to Think About:

• What do others see when they see you? Do they experience the Total Package or not?
• What things are holding you back from being The Total Package for Christ?
• What could you impact on this world truly be if you were to posses and use all nine facets of describes in today’s text?

A Few Minutes with God:

God, I know that you have given me all I need to positively impact this world for you. I know that with those gifts I have a chance to reach the lost, lead people out of the darkness and into your waiting and loving arms, and inspire others to do the same. God, light a fire in my soul to do those things, and that through all of this you will receive all honor and glory. I love you God. Thank you for your love of me and your faith in me. Amen.