Get In The Game!
By: Kristen L. McNulty
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Last weekend over 90 million viewers sat in front of their tv's to watch the Super Bowl. And I was one of them.
As I watched the game, I couldn't help but see comparison after comparison at how the Christian life is exactly like a football game. Stay with me for a minute.
Football is a very unique game in the fact that it emphasizes teamwork like no other. If someone scores a touch down, it's understood that the only reason they were able to cross that goal line is becaue the members of their team were also doing their job. The quarterback will only be able to throw the ball if the blockers do their job and the running back will only be able to catch the ball if the quarterback does his. There's no such thing as a one-man show.
The same thing goes for Christianity. Although we may see some Christians who are in the spotlight, in truth, the only reason they can be there and do what they do is because other people are doing their jobs behind the scenes. Just like in football, in the church there is no such thing as a one-man show.
The truth of the matter is, we're all on a team and we need to start playing together. Whether you're a running back, quarterback, or blocker, you need to figure out your role in the team and then do it. If you have the gift of teaching, then teach. If you have the gift or encouragement, then encourage. If you're a prayer warrior, then get on your knees because just alike a blocker if football, you may not always be in the spotlight, but your role is a crucial one.
This is exactly what the apostle Paul was talking about when he wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:
"The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ's body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit.
Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, "I am not part of the body because I am only an ear and not an eye," would that make it any less a part of the body? Suppose the whole body were an eye--then how would you hear? Or if your whole body were just one big ear, how could you smell anything?
But God made our bodies with many parts, and he has put each part just where he wants it. What a strange thing a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you."
In fact, some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect from the eyes of others those parts that should not be seen, while other parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together in such a way that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other equally. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad."
You see, as Christians we are members of the body of Christ and as members of the body of Christ we all have a part to play. Some of us may be behind the scenes workers, others may be in the spotlight. It doesn't matter which we belong to. What matters is that no matter what our role is, we respect and appreciate the roles of others, all while carrying out our own.
And when that happens, Christ is glorified and that's what our lives should be all about.
This devotional was aired as a part of the Making A Difference Christian Radio Show.