Where Is The Playing Field?

Some of you might be turned off by the mention of football in this reading, but I ask you to give it a listen. In this season’s opening game between the University of Alabama and Virginia Tech, an Alabama player made several mistakes.

We will not mention his name, that's not important. The mistakes were made by him in a situation that placed the opponent closer to a scoring opportunity, which came sooner than later.

The infractions were of the kind that " jeopardized " the effort of his other team-mates, the game-plan " enacted " by the coaches, and a  "negative"  influence on  others learning to play the game. 

However, his actions after it all came down, showed the heart, character, and desire to correct his mistakes.

·        He did catch himself before going so far as to being thrown out of the game.

·        He was able to do this because he knew who he was in the game.

·        He was a leader of the team.

·        He knew how to play the game correctly, and his team-mates looked up to him to do it correctly.

It is no different in other arenas in life, even in the world of being a disciple of CHRIST.

This player at halftime, we are told, apologized to his team-mates face to face. He came back the second half and played to his potential. Wow, what a team sport.  Do somebody wrong, apologize to them, and those that were wronged, accept the apology, and continue to play together and win the game.

As we were in Bible study a few years ago with Brother Bennett Weaver, who speaks with much education, common sense, and most of all a high degree of spirituality, stated in no uncertain terms that the Christian Team so often would kick a team member when they were down.

How true so often.

This Alabama player helped his position on the team by making himself accountable for his actions.

His coach might have some more character building activities for him to overcome on the practice field. When practice is over, if he is the player he thinks himself to be now, he will be a much better player for going through the chastening for the sake of the integrity of his team and the game.

Our God’s plan for us, as we follow our CHRIST in discipleship has the same plans.

Always know we are accountable to our team members. When God and His plans reveal our faults and weights that so easily beset us, let us show our Christian Character. Let us humbly ask for forgiveness face to face to our team members. Then we will feel and know the freedoms of true repentance through our honest confessions.  Let us humbly ask for forgiveness, seek HIS favor, and prove ourselves worthy to come before his presence with thanksgiving in all things. 

This is an experience that none might want to go through, but if you have gone through it and were forgiven, and were encouraged by your team mates to keep playing, you experienced JESUS in HIS people. 

I can relate, because I did jeopardize my team mate’s efforts at one time, and was forgiven. 

Forgiven by GOD and HIS people.

Rev. Justin R. Lott, September 10, 2009