Join the team. Play the game. Play by the rules.

26 March 2008

During a men's study today an interesting analogy I have been using was further fleshed out by a friend of mine, Jon Coll.  The analogy is one involving football and faith.

By coming to faith in Yeshua we have "joined His team" so to speak.  We are each called to "play in the game" we are assigned.  We are also called to play by the rules: to act honorably (Hebrew 13:18) and to stop sinning (1 Corinthians 15:34) .  The basic rules that apply to every player are the "rules" found in Torah: the traditionally counted 613 commandments.  Everyone has the same "out of bounds", the same rules regarding fouls, etc.  Even though every person plays by the same rules the "Coach" gives each person individual assignments and tasks to carry out.

As a "new player" on the team we might sit on the bench for a time while we learn the plays and build up our strength.  We likely have a few thousand push-ups and a few thousand squats to do in order to "muscle up" so we don't get injured during a play and so we can fulfill our role on the field.  We also have to show the Coach that we can accomplish the assignments we are given.  After all "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more." (Luke 12:48).

When we first join the team we might only get to participate in the "big plays" infrequently and when we do play we will likely fail from time to time and stumble in our execution of the play.  When we stumble, however, it is not so much that we fall (Romans 11:11).

In the end we should play the game and play to win.  Or as Shaul [Paul] puts it we should "run the race" and "run in such as way that you may win." (1 Corinthians 9:24).

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Yom Chamishi, 18 Adar II, 5784

Thursday, March 28, 2024

 

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