The Ballestero Blog

At What Level Do You Wish To Play?

In the 1980’s electronic chess games became the rage in certain cerebral circles. One particular model would ask its user, as soon as the power button was switched on, “At what level do you wish to play?”

Everyone knew it was just a game. The unit was a cheap handheld device that anyone could play. The user could play in the beginner mode, or even play at the expert level. No one would criticize the level he or she played. It was just a game, and it was only played for fun.

But The Question It Asked Is Still Valid In Real Life Today. At What Level Do You Wish To Play (Or Participate)?

‘Live Like You Were Dying’ is the title of a popular song made somewhat famous a few years ago. The message from just the title of the song is enough to make one think about prioritizing their life.

Like the electronic chess game, some things are just for entertainment, and some things are mainly used to pass the time. Then there are other things that have life and death importance attached. Our souls get intertwined in the process. You have to know which ones are which.

Your Friendships

Your God-fearing friends tell the world the level at which you wish to play.

Your worldly friendships probably display the level you really wish to play. If that is the level you wish to play, so be it.

Friends are more than just pals. Your friends matter to God.

• They Influence you.
• They generate peer pressure that will change you.
• They can take you away from God.
• They can bring you closer to God.
• Chose your friends carefully. You will soon become what they are.
• What do your friendships today say about the level you have chosen to play?

• In Your Friendships, At What Level Do You Wish To Play?

Your Marriage

The way you cherish your spouse and give yourself to your marriage tells your family, friends and the whole wide world the level you have chosen to play.

1. God becomes deeply interested and involved in your relationship with your spouse.
2. His Word even directs you how to love and express your love to each other.

• Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
• Ephesians 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

3. He pays attention to your mistreatment and neglect.

• 1 Corinthians 7:3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
• 1 Corinthians 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

4. Those who have trouble at home soon have trouble in church. The Lord knows that, you should too.

In Your Marriage, At What Level Do You Wish To Play?

At Church

Your Response And Involvement:

• In the Worship service says volumes about the level you wish to play.
• In the Prayer room shows the level you are playing.
• In the Altar service shows the level you are playing.
• In Outreach shows the level you are playing.
• In Giving To Missions shows the level you are playing.
• In Giving Your Tithes shows the level you are playing.
• In the way you argue about Standards shows the level you are playing.
• In Obeying God’s Word shows the level you are playing.

Your Reaction to the Preaching even when it corrects you makes clear the level you wish to play.

Saying Amen to the Word tells God, the devil, the Pastor and the Church family the level you wish to play.

Pictures and Posts on Social media sites tell everyone the level at which you are probably really playing.

Old timers used the phrase, Playing Church. Never let that be said about you.

Living For God Is Not A Game.

At Church, What Level Do You Wish To Play?