Do You Coach People Like A High Priest?

Heb 5:1-3 - For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself.  NASU 

FIRST, I would like to give a BIG Shout  Out of Congratulations to one of my Pump Up Readers, TROY STEINER. He was named the new Head Wrestling Coach of Fresno State. He will do a tremendous job for the Bulldogs. I rejoice with Troy and his entire family.

• Coaches Compared To High Priests 

A High Priest was a man that was taken from a special group of men. First and foremost, he had to be from the tribe of Levi.
 
Therefore, not just any man was qualified to be a HP and not just any man is qualified to be a coach.
 
A High Priest was appointed by God "on behalf of men in things pertaining to God."  In other words the HP was to help men or priest learn about God. He was to teach them how to serve and honor God.
 
Likewise, coaches are appointed by their leagues, schools and universities to teach boys, girls, men and women about the sport they coach as well as how to be a good person, honor the sport in which they compete and honor the God who gave them their abilities. 

• High Priest Was To Deal Gently 

He was to "deal gently" this Greek word means "to show compassion."  Why is he able to show compassion? The answer is because he is a man who has faced the same trials and temptations.
 
I believe the really great coaches have learned this lesson. They understand the trials and temptations of their athletes because they also have been athletes. They know when to be tough and demanding of their athletes and when to "deal gently" with them.
 
My son-in-law, Cary Kolat, tells of the time he lost in the finals of his freshman year at the Division One NCAA Wrestling tournament. He was given a plague for taking second place. Once he was off the platform he threw the plague in a trash can and sat down in the hallway.
 
Coach Dave Shultz picked the plague out of the trash and gave it back to Cary with some kind words. Dave knew how "to deal gently" with Cary at the correct time.
 
It is all about timing my friends.
 
A great coach will pick and choose his moments. He knows when to be direct,  or tough and when to challenge an athlete to be their best.
 
He also knows when to "deal gently" with his athletes. 

• Jesus Is Our High Priest 

If there is one thing we need to learn about Jesus our HP it is He knows how to "deal gently" with us.
 
He knows when we need reprimanded and when we need compassion and the reason He knows all of this is found in:
 
Heb 4:14-15 - Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet  without sin.  NASU
 
Jesus is able to sympathize with us. He was a human like us. He went through trials, temptations and tribulations like we have. The only difference is He never sinned while going through them.
 
Jesus is our HP. If you have sinned confess tyour sins to Him and ask for forgiveness.
 
If you know someone who has walked away from their relationship with Jesus tell them to talk with Him. He is able to sympathize with us.
 
Think On These:
 
Criticism should always leave a person with the feeling that he has been helped.
 
A pat on the back can cause a chin to go up and shoulders to go back.

Stay Pumped, 

Gary A. Serago
 
Minister of God's Word

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