July 16: Getting Into the Game

On the first day of a high school basketball practice, the coach handed a ball to each player. “Boys,” he said, “I want you to practice shooting from the spots you might expect to be in during the game.” The Center stood near the goal shooting lay-ups and occasionally demonstrating his dunking abilities. The Point Guard was at the top of the key, burying three-pointers. One of the boys immediately sat down on the bench and began shooting the ball toward the basket from there! Maybe his expectations were set too low, or maybe he just knew his own abilities.

God doesn't recruit anyone to sit on the bench. He wants us to "be in the game", telling others His story and demonstrating His love.

The women who arrived at Jesus tomb on that first day of the week were in for a surprise:
"The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." (Matthew 28:5-7)

The women were “put into the game” so fast their heads were spinning. Jesus was not only betrayed by a friend (Judas), but also by all of His Disciples. The Jewish Council plotted, Judas conspired with them, and even Jesus’ followers fled and left Him. Jesus was flogged and Crucified by the Soldiers and forsaken by His Father. As Jesus bore the sins of humanity, even the Father turned away.

The only ones who were faithful were these women—they were at the foot of the cross, they were at the burial, they were up early that morning after the Jewish Sabbath to tend to Jesus’ body. They deserved to be the first ones to hear the good news, “He is risen!”

The angel gave them three commands: “Do not be afraid”, “come and see…”, and “go and tell…” The same invitation given to the women is extended to us today, “come and see…” Come see this Jesus who healed, cast out demons and performed miracles. Hear this Jesus teach about the Kingdom of God. Then go and tell others what you have seen and heard.

Every culture has burial rites. Some tombs are tourist sites because of the importance of the one buried there. Some, like the Taj-Mahal in Agra, India are attractions because of their architectural beauty. However, the most sacred, the most important tomb is so not because of who it contains, but because it is empty.

Jesus wants you on His team. He wants you to trust Him enough to obey Him. He wants you to get off the bench and into the game of telling His story and showing God’s love.

“But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God.” (Romans 13:11 The Message)

The movie “Hoosiers” tells the story of a small-town Indiana basketball team that miraculously made it to the state championship. During an intense game, the team’s coach sent a player from the bench into the game, but before going out on the court the boy, a devout Christian, knelt to pray. And he continued to pray, delaying the game on the court. Finally, the coach leaned down and said, “Son, God wants you out on the court now.”

Some of us are like that – we’re still praying for God to strengthen us for the game, when God wants us to get into the thick of the game, promising that he will be our strength. Your days on earth are numbered, and you can only share your faith with others while you’re here in this world. For that matter, you can only share your faith with others while they’re still in this world. It’s time to get into the game of telling God’s story and showing God’s love.