Ex-NFL Coach Jimmy Johnson use to tell his players, “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” What a tremendous truth in this one little statement and it must have worked for Coach Johnson because he was a highly successful football coach.
I have used this phrase in many of the talks I have given whether it was speaking at a Chamber of Commerce banquet or giving a devotional to a church group. This is one statement that can be used in anything.
It has been used repeatedly in the work place trying to encourage employees to give more than what was expected of them. I have noticed that when you expect more from someone and give them the tools to work with they will exceed your expectations.
It amazes me why people find it hard to give more time to God’s work. Many have told me that the church will work you to death if you let them, and a lot of this is true. What about the time not spent with church work but during your everyday vocation? Are you doing anything extra to tell people about the saving grace of Jesus Christ? Is your livelihood worth looking at? Do people see you going above and beyond expectations of your work and family life?
Many of us talk a good game; however we all fall into the category of, “After all is said and done, more is said than done.”
We need to move past this and commit to what we are doing and give that little “extra” we are speaking of. If only a few of us would move forward with our commitments and complete them this world would be a better place.
We read about Jesus’ calling of Simon, Andrew, James, and John in the gospel of Mark chapter 1:16-20. These men immediately dropped what they were doing and followed Jesus without question. Each one of them was willing to go the extra mile to be a disciple of Jesus. How many of us today will do this?
It is my prayer that we will turn from our ordinary Christian attitudes to extraordinary disciple attitudes. Will you be the first one to do this?
GARY ANDREWS' devotional appears each week on the Church Pages of your Clarksdale Press Register. You can contact him at GARY@gadevotionals.com
