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Photo: Enigma sports

"I jump into a sand pit for a living"

Jonathan Edwards, World record triple-jumper

If only

However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you if only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today. Deuteronomy 15:4-5

England lost to New Zealand (Rugby) on Saturday but England could have won if only the wing had caught the scoring pass. England could have won if only the officials had referred a crucial touchdown (which probably wasn’t) to the TV official instead of awarding the touchdown to New Zealand. If only…

I am absolutely certain that everyone reading this, has a sporting “if only” of their own. If only I had not hit that hurdle, if only I had not false-started, if only I had run the race differently, if only I had not been injured, if only the coach had picked me…

God has an “if only” too! He said to his people “if only you fully obey the LORD your God” then he would bless them.

In sport, there are so few opportunities to win that medal, become champion, score the decisive goal. It is not surprising that we sometimes reflect on such “if only” moments.

In the bigger picture if we focus on God’s “if only“ moment and understand that if we trust him, obey him, follow him, then surely he will bless us.

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