MICHAEL JORDAN: PERSEVERE
In the fall of 1978, fifteen-year-old Michael Jordan tried out for the varsity basketball team at Emsley A. Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. The sophomore was 5 feet 11 inches and with his skills, the coach told him that he was not good enough, and Michael was cut from the team.
The following summer, however, Michael grew four inches and he trained rigorously. Upon earning a spot on the varsity roster, he averaged about 25 points per game over his final two seasons of high school play. As a senior, he was selected to the McDonald’s All-American Team.
"When I got cut from the varsity team as a sophomore in high school, I learned something. I knew I never wanted to feel that bad again. I never wanted to have that taste in my mouth, that hole in my stomach. So I set a goal of becoming a starter on the varsity," said Michael Jordan. He went on to play professionally in the National Basketball Association, and is arguably the finest player in basketball history.
If the Lord is calling you to do a work, persevere! He who called you will provide the means to succeed.
(Aquilla Webb, One Thousand Evangelistic Illustrations, Database © 2006 WORDsearch Corp. From a sermon by Donnie Martin, Parting Words from Paul, 9/21/2011)