This week, after months of voting by fans, Major League Baseball held its yearly all-star game. Different players were honored as all-stars and the National League and American League competed against each other in a game, as well as other individual activities such as the Home Run Derby. If you are a baseball fan, the all-star game is surely a favorite event as you get to watch the best players compete against one another. As fans have watched the game this week and considered these players and their skills, it may make a Christ-follower wonder: What would it take to be a spiritual all-star?

Becoming a spiritual all-star

Just as some people will argue that athletes are born physically gifted and develop those skills to become the best, there can be a hierarchy in the church that assumes some people are more gifted and capable of becoming spiritual all-stars than others in the congregation. But, through the prophet Micah, God affirms three core characteristics that help someone to become a spiritual all-star:

• to do justice in the world; 
• to love mercy; and 
• to walk humbly with God. 

These requirements by God are all actions that we can purposefully nurture and develop in our faith. And though there are unique spiritual gifts and graces that God gives to us as individuals, God also clearly indicates that these three characteristics can be the focus of a maturing, faithful life for all believers.

Training plan for spiritual maturity

Often teens have plans for other areas of their life. If they are athletes, they understand training; and nearly all youth understand a plan to study and develop scholastic skills. We want to help students identify the ways they already exhibit these characteristics, unpack some of the challenges they may face as they grow in these areas of faithfulness and develop a guideline for continuing to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

Question of the day: What do you think makes someone a spiritual all-star?
Focal scripture: Micah 6:8

For a complete lesson on this topic visit LinC.