After a rather unimpressive string of exhibition performances leading up to Paris, the United States Men's Basketball Team kicked off its Olympic campaign with an impressive 26-point victory over Serbia on Sunday. With one win already in hand, the US will now turn its attention to Wednesday's contest against South Sudan. On paper, the contest is heavily skewed in favor of the red, white, and blue, as the US is currently almost a 30-point favorite. However, South Sudan came mere seconds away from pulling a historic upset over the United States less than two weeks ago. In that contest, the US needed a layup from LeBron James with eight seconds remaining to edge out a 101-100 victory. This time around, head coach Steve Kerr is utilizing an old mantra he picked up from legendary coach Gregg Popovich to ensure his team doesn't overlook its opponent. The mantra in question concerns "appropriate fear." Kerr wants his players to realize they can lose if they don't play well, but he doesn't want them to be intimidated by the opposition. "Appropriate fear" is very valuable in sports, but it's also a phrase that can help with our attitude concerning sin as followers of Jesus. On one hand, we should never be so cocky or arrogant as to think we’re incapable of falling into a particular sin. We must recognize that we can always sin because of our sinful flesh. That fact should drive us to have a guarded attitude towards sin and not make us think we're incapable of falling. 1 Corinthians 10:12 (ESV) says, "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall." But while we need to recognize that we're always capable of sinning, that doesn't mean we should live in abject fear, assuming that it's inevitable that we cannot resist temptation. In response to Jesus' finished work on the cross, we no longer live in slavery to sin as we once did. We can resist temptation and live a life that brings glory and honor to God. Right after the Apostle Paul warned believers in 1 Corinthians 10:12 that they should be careful not to fall into sin, he said, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13; ESV). So today, let's live with an "appropriate fear" regarding sin. Let's always be on guard, knowing that we can fall into sin if we let our guard down. But simultaneously, let us live with confidence, knowing that God has given us the ability to resist temptation and live a life of obedience. I'm Matt Osborne, and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please help me have a healthy attitude toward sin. Keep me from being prideful and arrogant, but allow me to have confidence that You will help me resist temptation. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.
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