APPROACH QUESTION:
If you could describe the state of your heart using a descriptive word, what would it be and why?

On Friday, Nov 05, 2010 at Transformers Small Group, Pastor Ed, Calvin, Olivia, Brian, Joel, David, Ruth, Winston, Daniel, Matt, Rebecca, Melissa, and I had studied inductively Mark 1:1-34 about parables and either shared insights we learned or listened to insights shared by other brothers and sisters. To help me process the study more, I wondered what if Jesus talked football instead of farming to address different hearts to engage interests of football fans like me,  Calvin, Pastor Ed, Olivia, Pastor Hugo, Heather, Veronica, Evan, and others.

Calvin had shared with our group before that two different people can read the same passage and come up with a different application for their lives depending on what God reveals to them. My prayer is if what I am sharing is anointed by God then you will be receptive to the applications here and apply it as I pray I can apply the applications I learned from here.

To that end, I decided to look at this passage in terms of a football analogy and it's implications to my life. In this analogy, I see God as the Quarterback (QB) who commits no errors in how He sends the football. I see the football as God's Word. I see all of us as wide receivers who have a tendency to commit errors. I see the things that hinder us from receiving the football and running with it as the opposition.

"Listen, a quarterback with a perfect passer rating, throws the football. As He throws the football, the football fell along the path, and the defense came and took it away from the wide receiver creating an interception... Some humans are like those along the path where the word is sent to be sown. As soon as they hear it, the opposition comes and takes away the word that was sown through a deadly interception."

I asked myself why an interception of the wide receiver takes place?

As wide receivers, when we are not in the right position, proactively hearing and following the quarterback's signals when the ball is thrown, even though we can see it coming towards us, because we are not positioned correctly along the right path, it is taken away by the defense along that path. The end result is we have let the football be devoured by the opposition through a process called an interception.

I asked myself why does Satan come and take away the Word that was sown in people's lives creating an interception?

As humans, when we are are not in the right position,  even though we hear the Word sown in our lives, since we are not positioned correctly to be proactively hearing and following God's Word, as soon as we hear it, Satan comes and takes away the Word that was sown creating a deadly interception that could endanger our well being.

I asked myself what is the remedy in this situation to avoid an interception of God's Word?

For that not to happen, it is important to position our selves correctly.

In the game, 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 interception becoming the end of their careers.

 In our lives, we need to find ways to position ourselves instead of thinking Satan had his way with us and that's the end of it. Instead, we should spend time with God and proactively hear the Word to ensure Satan will not 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. It is through this personal time with God that helps us position our lives correctly to proactively hear God's Word.

So, 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 quiet times that are of quality so we do not become like those along the path where the Word is taken away.  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)

"The wide receivers now hear the football coming and receive it with joy. But these wide receivers have no root, so they last only a short time on the field. When opposition comes because of the football they received, they cannot hold on to it but will drop it.... Humans can hear the Word and at once receive it with joy. But if they have no root, they last only a short time in their faith  because when  trouble or persecution comes because of the Word, they will quickly fall away."

I asked myself why does an incomplete pass occur for the wide receiver even if the quarterback did not make the mistake?

As wide receivers, even after we position ourselves correctly and in excitement are able to receive the football, if we are not 100% rooted in the game because we are dealing with troubles or persecution in whatever form it may come on the field, we will drop the football creating an incomplete pass.

I asked myself why can God's Word become an incomplete pass in our lives causing us to quickly fall away even when God sends it to us without errors?

As humans, even if we are positioned correctly along the right path knowing where we should be so Satan cannot come and take away the Word from us and we finally receive the Word with joy, if we are not rooted in God's Word consistently, we will have no root creating an incomplete faith in our lives causing us to fall away by dropping the Word from our lives because we are unable to deal with  troubles or persecutions that come our way whether it be ridicule, low-self esteem, afraid of what people will think of us when we follow God's Word, etc.

I asked myself what is the remedy in this situation to avoid an incomplete pass in our lives to avoid quickly falling away?

For that not to happen, we need to be committed to be rooted 100% which includes positioning ourselves correctly.

In football, the wide receiver learns about being rooted in the game 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 daily. He comes to realize the importance of commitment from his coach. In essence, he has commitment to be rooted 100% in the game despite of troubles and persecutions he may encounter.

In our lives, 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) becoming a workmanship for God allowing Him to help us to do good works instead of  allowing trials and tribulations to hinder us. The playbook (Word of God) is very important. It is one thing to just hear the Word of God and receive it with joy but another thing to hear the Word of God proactively, and receive it with joy proactively to be rooted in us by study and practice of God's Word so as not to quickly fall away.

"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 be 100% rooted in God's Word daily 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 hear the Word proactively, and receive the Word with joy being rooted in it and 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)

"The wide receivers have the football but want to run with it on their own, creating a fumble, and not bearing any yards.  Humans can hear the Word but if they are a lone-ranger letting the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for others things to control them, it will choke the Word from their lives, making it unfruitful, creating a fumble for the opposition"

I asked myself why does a fumble occur for the wide receiver?

In the game, even if the wide receiver is now positioned correctly along the path so no interception occurs, receives the football with joy without dropping it for an incomplete pass because he/she is rooted in the game, the fumble could occur because he/she wants to make the touchdown on his/her own strength though without relying on the help of his/her teammates. The 3 F’s may have flashed in the person's mind: fun, fame, and fortune. He/she now gets the ball and keeps running with it without realizing the danger he/she is in. The defense does not give in but forces the ball loose, stripping the ball away and then taking it, causing a fumble.

I asked myself why can God's Word become fumbled in our lives?

As humans, even if we are now positioned correctly along the path, rooted in to receive God's Word joyously and run with it in our daily lives, if we do not take the help of God's community that He provides for us whether it be through small group Bible studies, church, Sunday School, etc, we will become a lone ranger with individualistic ideals wanting to accomplish things on our own, letting the worries of this life (academics, relationships, careers, etc) the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things to control us and choke the Word from our lives, making it unfruitful, living a life of brokenness, causing God's Word to be fumbled in our lives.

I asked myself what is the remedy in this situation to avoid a fumble of God's Word?

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 trying to attain the touchdown on his own strength, for his own glory, he needs to understand that there is no 'i' in team but a community effort just like the San Francisco Giants won the World Series 2010 playing as a community, building each other up. He needs to take a path that will provide him the resistance from the opposition so the football can be carried successfully after it is along the right path, received with joy being rooted in him/her to run with.

In our lives,  we should not try to be a lone-ranger Christian. We should not think we don’t need anyone’s help. When we hear God's Word by positioning ourselves correctly, receive it with joy and run with it being rooted in it, we should also have a communal perspective instead of a individualistic lone-ranger perspective. It is in community that the Lord builds His children up for His purposes using the Church, the body of believers to let the Word produce fruit which supplements our own daily time with the Lord.

"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)

Again, 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 depend on the Lord so He can transform us by His grace as we proactively apply the Word so we do not let the Word be fumbled 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)

"The football in the hands of the wide receiver along the good path produced a touch down across 100 yards.... Humans who hear God's Word proactively, accept it with joy being rooted in God's Word daily through Quiet Times knowing the importance of being in community produce fruit yielding thirty, sixty, or hundred times for the Kingdom attaining a touchdown from where they started."

I asked myself how did the wide receiver make a touchdown?

In football, the wide receiver now sees and hears the football coming because he is actively engaged by positioning himself in the right place, being rooted 100% in the game receiving the football with joy, running 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 our lives, when God sends us His Word, we now position our lives according to His plan and commit to carrying the Word by being so rooted in the Word through our Quiet Times with Him to have a DEEPER FAITH. 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. While we are running, when the devil attacks us, we draw our strength from being part of a STRONGER COMMUNITY of believers in the Word supplementing 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 making a GREATER IMPACT for His Kingdom.

"Carry each other’s burdens, and this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2)

I ask you now dear friend, how can F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L be used to explain God's Word working in different hearts?

Dear friend, you have read how the terminology of football such as interceptions, incomplete passes, fumbles, and a touchdown were used to explain four different hearts and how God's Word worked in those hearts. In those hearts, only one heart is the receptive heart that bears complete fruit but the rest of the hearts are a hardened heart (along the path), an unstable heart (rocky road), and a selfish heart (among thorns). The football analogy was used to expand on those hearts to see which is the only heart where God's Word would produce fruit.

I pray you come to realize the importance of a receptive heart that Christ wants you to have by His grace.

The purpose of today's devotional was for me to understand the role God's Word plays in different hearts through a football analogy and how true growth in the Lord can only come by having a receptive heart that hears God's Word proactively daily,  receives it with joy being rooted in Him by drawing our nourishment in Him daily, and is part of a community of believers daily instead of living a selfish, individualistic lifestyle.

"Football Offers Omnipotent Truths By Almighty Lord's Lessons!" (F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L)/"How can F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L be used to explain God's Word working in different hearts?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for your Word and how you have used a farming example to reach the people of that day. That example can still be used to teach us the type of heart we are. I thank you for the opportunity to be able to make an analogy to football and understand different hearts through a football analogy. Oh Lord, please help us not to be aligned with a hardened heart, unstable heart, or a selfish heart that becomes a thorn in other people's lives. We want to have a receptive heart to hear you proactively, receive your Word with joy always being rooted in you and drawing our nourishment from you, and being part of a community of believers you have put in our lives so we all can grow together in deeper faith, stronger community, and have a greater impact for your Kingdom's sake even as we spend solitary time with you. Thanks so much Jesus. Help me to apply all I have learned for your honor and glory. Thank you Oh Lord. Please Oh Lord forgive us our sins, hear our prayers, and answer us Oh Lord for we are so sorry for our sin. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you that you hear us and answer us as we turn to you. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

ANALOGY OF INVITING PEOPLE TO THE GREAT PHYSICIAN:

We are like an ambulance taking sick people to the hospital. People are dying and there is an emergency because of an epidemic virus. The ambulance takes the initiative to go to the place people are dying and bring them to the hospital. They are not dead yet but there is no time to wait. The ambulance needs to get to the hospital for that virus to be treated. The virus has infected the mind, body, and soul spreading rapidly. You and I cannot do anything to heal our friends of this virus except be the AMBULANCE taking them to the HOSPITAL where the GREAT PHYSICIAN waits.

Once at the hospital, there is a GREAT PHYSICIAN that waits. The sick are gathered from all corners of the earth and come to this hospital.  This hospital is called CALVARY OF SALVATION and the EMERGENCY WARD is called GOLGOTHA.

The GREAT PHYSICIAN is not like other doctors who can only treat patients with  physical ailments but this GREAT PHYSICIAN is much more and knows He has to stay 72 HOURS for every dying person there to be healed.

He knows what He has to do! This GREAT PHYSICIAN knew that only His BLOOD can wipe away this epidemic VIRUS, so for you and me He went to the blood transfusion room where people were about to die. There He lay down on the bed  made of wood.

The surgeons walk into the room. They turn this GREAT PHYSICIAN on His back.  Instead of using an IV, a WHIP with sharp glass, etc is used to draw out the BLOOD from the GREAT PHYSICIAN'S back! It does not stop there but to elevate the head on the bed of wood, a CROWN OF THORNS is used which draws more BLOOD.

As the head is elevated, the GREAT PHYSICIAN's hands are stretched wide on the wooden bed. Then the feet are bound together. This is done for the BLOOD transfusion to begin. Instead of using an IV, NAILS and a HAMMER is used. The NAILS are pounded through the hands into the wooden bed with a HAMMER so the BLOOD flows and that BLOOD is saved. The NAILS are pounded through the feet into the wooden bed with a HAMMER so more BLOOD flows and that BLOOD is saved. As the BLOOD continues to flow from the GREAT PHYSICIAN's body, the GREAT PHYSICIAN flat lines. Then the surgeons insert a SPEAR into the heart to make sure all the BLOOD is out. All the BLOOD is out!

Now, the GREAT PHYSICIAN is moved into the JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA MORGUE being guarded by security.

Now the CALVARY OF SALVATION hospital has a BLOOD DONOR whose BLOOD can be used to save everyone there from this EPIDEMIC VIRUS. 

Those dying need to be taken there to receive the BLOOD transfusion that is available. However, the BLOOD will not be forced upon those dying! THE PUREST RED ANTIDOTE is only given to those that are willing to receive the BLOOD TRANSFUSION so they could LIVE.

All that accept the BLOOD are being CLEANSED of this EPIDEMIC VIRUS in their system that is infecting the mind, body, and soul.  This BLOOD goes into the dying person's mind, body, and soul and eats away at the virus cleaning them and making them pure. This VIRUS is known as SIN. The BLOOD is the PRECIOUS CLEANSING BLOOD OF THE GREAT PHYSICIAN, JESUS CHRIST.

The WOODEN BED is the CROSS OF CHRIST where the dying need to be led too.

72 HOURS LATER, there is a commotion at the JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA MORGUE. THE GREAT PHYSICIAN is not there anymore and the ANGELS that visit tell loved ones who came there, that THE GREAT PHYSICIAN IS ALIVE and will save all that come to Him.

It is true even to this day, for all that come to the HOSPITAL OF CALVARY come to realize that His CLEANSING BLOOD shed on the WOODEN BED (CROSS) will never run out. Anyone infected who wants to be healed of their sickness can accept what Jesus did for them and be covered in His precious CLEANSING BLOOD.

I have done that friend and know that at the foot of the cross where Jesus died shedding His precious cleansing blood for my sin and the sins of the world, I can find forgiveness and grace. You can find Salvation too!

Thanks be to God that Christ's death on the cross was temporary to remove all His precious cleansing blood for our sake but after He was buried, Jesus came back to life to save.

To this day, all who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved when they acknowledge what Jesus Christ has done for them and what He can do for them.

Friend, Jesus loves you so much and if you were the only one living on earth, Jesus would have done the same for you. What I shared with you was an analogy but in real life it has happened. Jesus went to the cross for you and me and His precious cleansing blood was shed so you and I could have life. Jesus came back to life 72 hours later and is alive but His blood continues to heal people on every corner of the earth to those that accept Him.

Prayer:
Jesus, I want to thank you so much that you came as God-incarnate to run a sin-free platform. You know what the world is plagued with and what your opponent Satan has been trying to do. Satan was a liar from the beginning and tries so hard to take us with him. But, you don’t want that I know for while we were yet sinners you died for us. You came back to life to save us so we can be freed from the power of sin and death. Thank you Lord for paying the price for me! Thank you for your impeccable record advertised in the Gospels. Thank you that your accomplishments are all listed in a book published throughout the world called the Bible. It is no ordinary book but your Word of Truth. In your Word of Truth, you also tell us about your opponent and all his lies. Thank you for making us aware of that. Thank you for being my Lord and Personal Savior as I come to you and vote you into my heart. Lord there is no lever to pull but the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart.  I confess with my mouth that you are Lord and repent of all my sins. Please forgive me and help me. I believe you died and rose again for me. Come Lord Jesus into my heart and forgive me of all my sin. Thank you Jesus so much for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you that you will bring change into my life as I seek you Lord. Thank you for your awesome promises. Help me Oh Lord not to be deceived by your opponent ever! Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy but you have come to give life in all its fullness! I thank you so much. I want to campaign for you daily. Please help me Lord to contend for your Gospel. Thank you that my name is written and certified in the Book of Life as I turn to you. You are the perfect candidate to vote for! Lord, I also pray for the earthly elections happening that you would give us wisdom to put the right people in office. Thank you so much Jesus for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! I want to thank you again for loving us so much and be willing to be a candidate years ago and continue to be a candidate. Amen! Thank you we can always turn to you and you will be there for us. I love you Jesus. In Your Name I Pray my Jesus, my Savior, there is none like you! I could search for all eternity long and find there is none like you. AMEN!

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help! But beware of churches who do believe in the Word of God completely but there is no freedom in Christ but legalism involved.

As a professional, it is not too late to join a church! As a student, it is not too late to join a fellowship on campus this  fall of 2010! May the Lord's presence and peace fill you with His love now and forever! Amen!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!

Spend time in His word and let the Lord speak to you! Start out in the Gospel of John! You can also check out the Gospel of Mark which are the devotionals I have been going through.  Learn from Jesus through study and prayer. Also find yourself a church fellowship and a college fellowship you can be part of where you can be part of a community of believers to supplement your own walk with the Lord. Let it be a Bible-believing and Bible-breathing church! Believe in Bible LIVE Eternally!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-641-9426

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)