Now imagine God being your
Quarterback
(QB) with a perfect passer rating. This means there are no errors on the part of God
as a quarterback. Let us hold that constant so any error that occurs will be because of
us wide receivers. As a quarterback throws a football and as a farmer throws the seed,
God sends us His Word.
What
if Jesus talked football?
"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As
he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate
it up." (Mark 4:3-4, NIV)
"The farmer sows the
word. Some people are like seed along the path, where
the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word
that was sown in them." (Mark 4:14-15, NIV)
As wide receivers, we need to be in the right position
listening and following the quarterback signals. When the ball is thrown, we can see
it coming towards us but unfortunately there are times we are not positioned
correctly. The end results is it’s taken away by the defense. We just allowed
an interception because we were not in the right position to receive the ball.
In the same way, God sends to us the receivers His Word. We
need to be in a position to hear the Word coming and receive it. But many times
we can have a tendency just to hear the Word and let it end there. The end
result is what’s sown is easily forgotten. It is as if it were taken away.
For that not to happen, it is important to position our
selves correctly.
In football, when a play is misread, the wide receivers
have a general idea what they could have done to position themselves better.
They go and try again without letting the mistake stopping them.
In our
lives, we need to find ways to position ourselves so we not only hear the Word
but also are careful not to let the enemy take it away. It is great to hear the
Word on Sundays and other times but there is nothing like personal time with the
Lord to
complement our corporate times at fellowship, Bible studies, and church.
Let us get our life in a position where we can meet alone with God
without having a hardened heart and let Him speak to us so Satan cannot make us
forget the Word. In essence, let us have daily devotional or quiet times. I have
realized that this alone is not enough as scenario 2 sheds more light.
"Some fell on rocky
places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil
was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they
withered because they had no root." (Mark 4:5-6, NIV)
"Others, like seed sown on
rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have
no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because
of the word, they quickly fall away." (Mark 4:16-17, NIV)
As wide receivers, not only do we have to position our selves correctly but
be committed to catching the ball and holding on to it. In excitement, we do get
our hands on the ball but unfortunately we cannot hold on to it because we get
frightened of being tackled as we hear footsteps behind us. In essence we are
not committed 100% to the sport and it results in an incomplete pass. The
quarterback
threw it well and we should have caught it.
In the same way, when God sends His Word, we can now be
in a position to hear it and receive it with joy because we have taken the time
to position our lives to spend time with Him so we know where we should be. This
is a sporadic thing though and not consistent so we have no root. For a short
time we can be getting along fine but then persecution comes our way through
trials and tribulations, we mess up. We may not be committed 100% to carrying
the Word in our lives because of all sorts of persecution ranging from ridicule
from others to low self-esteem on our parts. Also, we may be afraid of what
other people will think of us as we take the Word and run in our lives. So we
drop the Word from our lives and fall to our own ways not wanting to be
committed to God.
For that not to happen, we need to be committed 100% whether
it is carrying a football or carrying God’s Word in our lives.
In football, the wide receiver learns about commitment by spending time
alone, watching clips of himself playing, analyzing the mistakes he has made,
looking at the playbook as important. It is one thing to just look at it and another
thing to study it and practice it. He comes to realize about commitment from his
coach and other players. In essence, he has 100% commitment to become a better
player.
In the same way, the best offense for us would be to
spend time alone thinking through the actions we have done, analyzing the
mistakes we have made, and looking at our playbook (the Word of God) wanting to
improve, not allowing trials and tribulations to hinder us. The playbook (Word
of God) is very important. It is one thing to just look at the Word of God but
another thing to study and practice it.
"Do not let this Book of
the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be
careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and
successful." (Joshua 1:8)
You can realize about commitment from the Master coach Jesus
Christ. In essence, you can make a 100% commitment to become a better Word
carrier.
So when persecution comes, you need not be intimidated by
fear but can boldly say, "God has not given me the
spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."
(2 Tim 1:7)
I have realized that being positioned correctly to receive
the Word and committed to carrying it is not enough as scenario 3 sheds light.
"Other seed fell among
thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear
grain." (Mark 4:7, NIV)
"Still others, like seed sown
among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of
wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it
unfruitful." (Mark 4:18-19, NIV)
In
football, the wide receiver is now positioned and committed so he is able to
receive the football and run with it even though he hears footsteps behind him.
In excitement, he wants to make the touchdown on his own strength
though without relying on the help of his teammates. The 3 F’s flash in his
mind: fun, fame, and fortune. He now gets the ball and keeps running with
it without realizing the danger he is in. The defense does not give in but piles
upon him forcing the ball loose before he hits the ground, stripping the ball away and taking it, causing a fumble and recovering
it.
In the same way, when God sends us His Word, we are
now positioned and committed to receiving it and run our daily lives. We run our
lives well for a while with the joy of the Lord but not wanting other peoples
help though. Soon the worries of this life ‘such as academics, relationships,
careers, and so on’ hit us so hard that we forget our eternal perspective. The
end result is living a secluded life in brokenness making our lives unfruitful.
For that not to happen, it is important to receive the help
that is provided.
In football when a wide receiver fumbles the ball because he is
overpowered by the defense, he should not be shunned by his teammates but he
should take their support next time that they provide it.
In the same way, we should not try to be a
lone-ranger Christian in our lives. We should not think we don’t need anyone’s
help. We should follow God’s Word and take His help leaving the worries of this
life in His Helping Hands! He provides His help in many ways mainly through His
Church, the body of believers.
"Let Him have all your
worries and cares for He is always thinking about you and watching everything
that concerns you." (1 Peter 5:7)
Going to Church, small groups, fellowships, retreats etc will give us a
support structure that will help supplement our time with the Lord and be an
effective wide receiver as we carry the Word continuously with us. We need to do
our part but also depend on others the Lord wants to use in our lives.
"They devoted themselves
to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and
to prayer...They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and
sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all people. And the Lord
added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:42-47)
After we are positioned correctly to receive the Word, committed to
carrying the Word, and are in a community of believers in the Word, we are now in a
position as wide receivers to win with the Word in our lives as scenario 4
shows.
"Still other seed fell on good
soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a
hundred times." (Mark 4:8, NIV)
"Others, like seed sown on good
soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a
hundred times what was sown." (Mark 4:20, NIV)
In football, the wide receiver now sees and hears the
football coming. He knows he should position himself in the right place, be
committed to what he is doing. He receives the football and runs with it making
sure to take the help and support of all his teammates. While his teammates
block the defense, the result is 50, 40, 30, 20, 10 TOUCHDOWN!!!
In the same way when God sends us His Word, we now position our lives according to His plan and commit to carrying the Word. We do not stop
there but are part of a community of believers in the Word. When we run, we now
know the essence of teamwork. We ask God to take control of our lives and submit
ourselves 100% to Him. While we are running, when the devil attacks us, we draw
our strength from being part of a community of believers in the Word and our
personal relationship with the Lord through prayer and study of His Word. The
result is 50, 40, 30, 20, 10 ETERNITY. We have gained a spiritual touchdown
against our adversary, Satan. In God's eyes we become a champion and that's the
best championship we can have because we will be surrounded by the Ultimate
Champion: Jesus Christ!
"Carry each other’s burdens, and this way you
will fulfill the law of Christ."
Anyone
who knows Tony Dungy or heard about him can tell you what his faith in
the Lord Jesus means to him and how his faith in Christ has influenced
his life and the decisions he makes. The Superbowl championship with the
Indianapolis Colts could not have come to a better person last year.
We do
not get results with others by shouting at them or making them feel
discouraged but we can get results by lovingly reaching out to each
person and letting others feel loved and appreciated. Anyone can rule
with an iron-fist but it is the one that rules with love that will have
last results.
Jesus
Christ is the best example of that which Tony Dungy tries to imitate his
life after and I want to do that too! Jesus Christ did not come to
be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom to many. That is
awesome to know friend. Yes, it is friend. Friend, Jesus loves you as
you are and He can give you the best championship in your life, being a
champion of Jesus Christ. When others see you, will they see that you
are different because Jesus is in your life or will they see that Jesus
has no bearing in your life and your faith is just a religion without
substance.
Tony
Dungy lives out his faith in times of joy and times of tribulation. My
prayer is that we can live our lives for Jesus Christ no matter what is
happening around us knowing Jesus Christ who created us will always take
care of us as He has paid for our sins with His cleansing precious
blood. May His love help us to live lives of love! Amen!
"Farming/Football Offers Omnipotent Truths By
Almighty Lord's
Lessons!" (F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L)/"What if
Jesus talked F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L?"
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for the parable of the 4 seeds and how you used Kevin
to explain the parable using a football diagram on the board. Lord, because of
that I was able to analyze the similarities between farming and football and
come up with this devotional. Oh Lord, I wonder if you were walking the earth
today if you would have used football. Thank you for the applications and
principles I have gotten out of your Word. Lord, help us please to be those on
good soil so we can have victory as Christians. We need your help Lord for many
times we fail and go back to the other soils and we don't like that. Lord, even
when we mess up you are there to put us back on the right track. Thank you for
your awesome promises. I pray Oh Lord that people's hearts would be touched and
that they would come to know you more and more and have an excitement to study
your Word and meditate on it. Please help us in our Christian walk for your
honor and glory as we live here on earth. Thank you so much Jesus for all your
help! Thank you for hearing us and answering us. We are so sorry for our sins
and give ourselves to you acknowledging you as our Lord and Personal Savior.
Please come into our heart and make our heart your home. Live in us Jesus and we
will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of our lives. Thank you for
being our Lord and Personal Savior, for saving us. Whatever your will for our
lives, give us the willingness and strength to bear it as we turn ourselves to
thee. Thank you Jesus we can turn to you. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
You can pray this prayer with me
to offer yourself to Jesus!
Dear
Jesus, thank you for being born in Bethlehem in a stable. You had a
humble beginning even though you are the King of kings and Lord of
lords. I am so sorry for my sins and confess all of them to you. Please
Jesus forgive me of my sin and set me free from any bondage I am in. I
turn myself over to you and offer myself as a present to you this
New Year. Thank you for dying for my sin and coming back to life to
save me. I do not know all I want to know about you but I want to start
my journey with you and learn from you as I feed upon you and draw my
nourishment from you. Help me please Jesus. Thank you so much Jesus.
Thank you for saving us and being there for us. Please come Jesus into
my heart and make my heart your home. Live in me Jesus and I will live
for you and I will serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you
Jesus you have heard my prayer and answered me. Thank you for being my
Lord and Personal Savior. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Help me in my
journey with you Oh Lord. Thank you Jesus! Amen!
