Today's Devotional

October 8, 2003

Subject:  Let The Game Come To You

2Timothy 2:24 - "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,"

This is a phrase that you hear all of the time in football season, "Let The Game Come To You."  When it is used, it usually means that a player is trying too hard to make things happen and usually indicates that he is playing outside of his capabilities or that he is just not comfortable with what he is doing.  For instance, if a quarterback's best skills are to run the ball first and throw second, then he might find himself throwing more than normal or trying to do things other than run, which should be his game.  Decisions like this are usually pre-planned, made ahead of time, and not in response to what is actually happening in the game.  This usually causes an increasing anxiety and frustration on the player's part and his game usually gets worse and worse until he finally realizes that he's got to relax and just "let the game come to him." 

We do this in the Christian life too.  Everybody is not a quarterback in the Christian faith, so it would be quite stressful for them to try to play a "lead" role that puts them out front and makes them confrontational with non-believers and others.  Everyone is not an offensive lineman in the Christian faith, someone who is responsible for opening up opportunities for the quarterbacks and running backs.  These people are usually the unsung heroes of the faith.  For some, this role just doesn't work.  

The key is for believers to simply take life as it comes to them.  Statements like Peter's, "I will never do this..." or "I will never do that....," whatever it is, is a pre-planned action that isn't in response to current life situations.  God never meant for us to have "all" of the answers and decisions pre-planned, though He might sometimes give us information in advance.  That doesn't require trusting and believing in Him.  That's why he once said, "take no thought what you shall say, I will give you the words at the right time..."  He was in essence saying, don't sweat it and don't strive, let the game come to you and play within your capabilities.  

When you're in His power, your capabilities are huge.

Carlen