Good, growing players never shy away for long from having mistakes brought to their attention. Certain things have to be pinpointed and eliminated in order for improvement to continue to take place.

That's why, in part, players watch so much film. And coaches do too. Players and coaches know that a call to something better is needed.

God takes people to the film room too. But whenever God's Word exposes evil in and among us, it always surrounds that message with a picture of something purer, better (Note Ephesians 5:1, 8).

Whenever Scripture deals with darkness, it always calls for light. Whenever our past fills with mistakes, God points us to a forgiven future. Whenever sin needs to be confronted, God always flanks this message with grace, forgiveness, hope, and positive, positional truth.

He coaches people the right way. He brings a restorative touch to every hard issue He spotlights. And those restorative touches are powerful and amazing (Romans 5:20 and Romans 8:1-7)!

As Ephesians 4 rolls into chapters 5 and 6, God takes us into the film room. Scripture there doesn't pull any punches when it comes to sex, impurity, greed, language, deception, idolatry.

But it turns on the lights before and after, offering more, better, best; a preferred future with Him, through Him. The way it is doesn't have to be the way it will be.

One more thing, if we're pulled into a film room and only guilt and shame remain as we walk out, either we missed a redemptive message God had for us, or that film session was not from Him. Bad coaching sneaked in. The enemy of our souls duped or dragged us in there instead.

So let's appreciate the great coaching touch God brings and apply ourselves to bringing that same touch to ourselves and others.

A prayer to consider: LORD, help me to receive all Your good coaching. Run the film. Turn on the lights. Bring just the right touch once more. Help me to model it to others. I really need to be great at this if I'm going to make any real headway in life.