Winning in the Game of Life

In some parts of the country they play football, but in my state we “live” football. For 365 days it seems that this sport is in the headlines. Football is great, but it is a lousy god.

Join THE TEAM-You will not just show up on game day and walk out on the football field. No, every player must have actually joined the team. As a follower of Christ, it is the same requirement.. Jesus tells Nicodemus in John 3, “You must be born again.” Everyone who is a follower of Jesus must have had that moment of accepting Christ into his or her life. Paul writes in Romans 10, “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Join the team!

Make an IMPACT-Ask any player on the sideline and they will tell you the same thing. It is not enough for them to be on the team, they want to make an impact. The running back wants the ball. The defense wants to stop the opposing team. Every member wants to be the “call to person” when the game is on the line. I believe most Christians should live the same way. We should live our lives in a way to impact others for the Kingdom of God. The way we live does matter. Our neighbors, co-workers and classmates should know of our relationship with Christ. God will not change the country until He changes us. Our mindset must be to make a difference in our lives.

Work TOGETHER-You can have a team with superstars that will always be beat by a better team. God has chosen to use many of us who are “ordinary” to carry His message to the world. It is when we work together on a team that we find momentum. What would happen if everyone on the defense wanted to play offense? What if the coach decided he was going to be the trainer? Mass confusion and total ineffectiveness. We must play as a team. Whatever role God has given us in the Body of Christ is instrumental. No one has a secondary role; everyone has a vital one as we become effective as the Body of Christ.

Play to WIN- It is not enough to be competitive. To a true team member, the objective is to win! It should be comforting to know that we ARE on the winning team, but let’s not slow up. One day when we stand in front of our Savior we should all anticipate hearing, “Well done, good and faithful Servant!” It does not matter who wins on the field, because those of us who know Christ have already won!

—Scott Dawson