Perform Under Pressure!
"We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed;
we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted,
but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."
2 Corinthians 4: 8-9
Pro football fans talk about DVOA
(Defense-adjusted Value Over Average)
for teams and individual players.
The team with the best DVOA ranking for the 2019 NFL season
was the Baltimore Ravens. That means that out of all 32 teams
in the NFL, the Ravens had the best team performance through
out the entire regular season (based on the DVOA formula).
Pressure in sports is temporary; pressure in life is continual. The
apostle Paul talked about the pressure he faced—hard-pressed,
perplexed, persecuted, struck down—and how he continued to
bear fruit. Jesus described the pruning process in the spiritual
life that results in more fruit (John 15:1-8).
And we have the promises of God that assure us no pressure will
ever be more than we can endure (1 Corinthians 10:13). Indeed,
like silver in the refiner’s fire, heat burns away the dross and
reveals the true value of Christ in us (Galatians 2:20).
How would you rate your performance under pressure in the
spiritual life? The purpose is “that the life of Jesus also may
be manifested in [your] mortal flesh” (2 Corinthians 4:11).
While the fire is hot, keep
conversing with the Refiner.
F. B. Meyer
