Are You Ready to Get in the Game?
The Christian life is like a football game. The believers are the players, each with a specific role and unique gifts, working together toward the same goal. Christ is the Coach, guiding, encouraging, and calling the plays. Just as players need to listen to their coach, study the playbook, and work as a team, believers must follow Christ, study His Word, and rely on the fellowship of the Church. Victory isn’t measured by earthly points but by fulfilling the mission God has set before us—living for His glory and leading others to Him.
First Corinthians 12:12-14 reminds us, “For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one part, but many.” Each believer has a role to play, and when we work together, we reflect the unity of Christ’s body.
Some players might eagerly ask, “Put me in, Coach!” but the Coach may respond, “You’re not ready yet.” This isn’t rejection; it’s preparation. Just as a player must diligently study the playbook, refine their skills, and push through the drills, believers must dive into God’s Word, grow in their faith, and trust in God’s perfect timing. Second Timothy 2:15 encourages us, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”
However, there are also players who might be content sitting on the bench, not fully engaging in the game. They may feel comfortable with the idea of being a spectator rather than a participant. But in the Christian life, God has called all believers to actively engage, not to sit idly by. Every player has a unique role to play in fulfilling God’s purpose. As 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 reminds us, “Run in such a way that you may win,” we’re called to run the race, not watch from the sidelines.
The Coach’s goal is always for our good—to train us to be effective for His purpose and ready for the moments when He calls us to the field. Hebrews 12:11 reminds us, “For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” God’s training equips us to fulfill His mission.
This life isn’t about winning in the eyes of the world, but about serving faithfully and glorifying God. First Corinthians 9:24-25 puts it this way: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. So they do it to obtain a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.”
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“What I write is not for everyone, but what I write is meant for someone.”
I am the author of two books: Embracing God's Wisdom: A Journey of Faith and Reflection and Embracing God’s Wisdom: Paul’s Commands for Victorious Living. Both are available on Amazon.
If you have any comments, questions, or testimonies to share, I would love to hear from you! Please reach out at: hopeinchrist2024@yahoo.com