"God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast and when I run, I feel his pleasure."
Being sent
As the Father has sent me, I am sending you John 20:21John’s Gospel speaks often of Jesus being sent into the world: to do his Father’s will (6:38,39; 8:29), to speak his words (3:34; 12:49; 17:8), to perform his works (4:34; 5:36: 9:4), and to bring salvation (3:l6,17).
And amazingly Jesus sends us out to be his representatives in the world. For many of us that is to the world of sport. Jesus sends out his deeply flawed disciples to be his witnesses. He doesn’t wait until we’re perfect but works with us just as we are, shaping and changing us as we relate to him.
The Message translates John 1:14 as “The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighbourhood”. Think of it as Jesus moving into our sports club! And we are there as his servants and followers.
As we try to follow Jesus in the sports club by speaking his words, performing his works and bringing salvation, what will it look like? Speaking his words will involve sharing the good news of Jesus. It can also mean speaking up against unethical or even illegal practices in the club – playing unregistered or suspended players under a false name, falsifying a player’s age, lying to avoid a fine (and I have seen all of these in clubs I have been involved in).
Performing his works will mean being the servant of the club, being the person to volunteer to do the unpopular job – to sweep the muddy changing room floor, to clear up the morning after an evening function, to volunteer when someone is needed. The more we act like Christ, the more people will listen when we speak about him. In that way we will help to bring salvation to our club.
PS Thanks to Fran Beckett, whose Encounter with God meditation, inspired this devotional.