By Staff Writer, Matt Osborne

After falling behind 3-0 in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals matchup against the Miami Heat, the Boston Celtics have responded with grit and determination, collecting back-to-back victories to send the series to South Beach for Game 6.

In particular, Boston’s defensive efforts have been vastly improved in the past couple of contests. The Celtics held Miami under 100 points in both Games 4 and 5, after giving up an average of over 120 points in the first three games of the series.

Having now generated some tangible momentum, many people are beginning to believe that the Celtics could become the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series.

Boston has looked like a completely different team in its most recent games, and it’s hard to imagine that the Heat wouldn’t be feeling the pressure after failing to close out the series.

But with much of the momentum seeming to be heading away from them, the Heat are responding publicly with calm and poise.

Making his postgame remarks to reporters, Miami star Jimmy Butler commented, “Like I always say, it’s going to be all smiles, and we are going to keep it very, very, very consistent, knowing that we are going to win next game…But we are always going to stay positive, knowing that we can and we will win this series. We’ll just have to close it out at home.” 

I admire Butler’s goal to stay confident and consistent, despite the team’s most recent performances. Even more so, I respect the fact that Butler and the Heat are not panicking by scrapping their laidback approach which gave them success in the first place. He knows it works!

In sports, many teams are quick to automatically make changes the moment they experience a loss and immediately feel the need to “do something different” as soon as they hit a hurdle.

However, the Heat must remain consistent with focusing on the right approach and realizing that winning a playoff series is a process and it may include a couple of losses along the way.

They must stay the course without getting discouraged or making misguided adjustments or listening to the wrong voices because there isn’t a shortcut to the NBA Finals.

As followers of Jesus, I think we sometimes experience the same temptation when facing losses in our battle against sin. When we lose our fight with our flesh, our immediate thought can be to “do something different” and find a shortcut to becoming more like Jesus.

We desire to fight against our sin and to do whatever it takes to live a life that is pleasing to God, while the fact remains there are simply no “shortcuts” when it comes to our maturation as Christians. It’s a process and it may include “a couple of losses” along the way.

Of course, Miami can make some adjustments, and in our own lives, we need to use wisdom to make changes to put ourselves in a better situation to win and not give in to sin.

The key thing to remember, however, is that sanctification (the process of becoming more like Jesus) is primarily achieved through being “very, very, very consistent” in spiritual disciplines and keeping the approach of focusing on Jesus and God’s Word. We know it works! He’s the One who transforms us.

Rather than embarking on a never-ending journey to look for the latest “self-help” fad, trend, or method that promises to help us overcome our sin, we must remain consistent with the timeless “formula” given to us in the Bible.

Romans 12:2 (ESV) says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” 

This verse tells us that becoming more like Jesus is a process that occurs as we renew our minds. That means that the more we are engaged with God’s Word (both studying it and thinking deeply upon the truths contained within), the more we’ll see victory over sin in our lives.

In Jesus’ prayer recorded in John 17:17 (ESV), He stated, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth.”

Jesus also made the connection that sanctification occurs as we are consistently in His Word.

Ultimately, God has given us all of the spiritual armor necessary to overcome the sin in our lives (see Ephesians 6:13-18).

So rather than looking for an easy way to skip ahead in our sanctification, we must demonstrate Holy Spirit-empowered self-control and consistency as we continually engage in spiritual disciplines such as prayer, reading our Bibles, participating in a local church, communion, and listening to sound Biblical teaching.

While such an approach might seem almost too uncomplicated to produce results, I am reminded of a quote from the movie God’s Not Dead, where a character said of following Jesus, “It isn’t easy, but it is simple.”   

So today, let’s return to consistency in practicing those timeless spiritual disciplines, trusting that God will use the means He has given us to sanctify us and make us more like His Son.

I’m Matt Osborne and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for providing me with the means to mature and become more like You. Help me to be disciplined in fighting against sin in the manner that You have instructed. Thank you for sanctifying me and making me more like Your Son. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.