Photo courtesy of Fernweh Photography
OFFICIAL DISCLAIMER FOR THAT BLOG TITLE: Yes, I realize that is a football analogy. And yes, I know I am not really a big football fan. And if my ESPN-loving brother knew I was writing a blog that even mentioned football he would probably laugh out loud. But I do watch the Super Bowl every year & I am watching it today – so that’s something!
Speaking of football & things like that . . . I want to share a couple of things God’s had on instant replay in my mind & heart.
What position am I playing on the field, exactly? The field of life, I mean. Yeah, we’re going deep here – hang on to your helmets. Oh don’t groan, I promise I am going to run out of my limited sports vocab soon; you won’t have to suffer through endless pigskin analogies. But am I more of an offensive player or am I defensive? Is my life about taking action, moving forward against all the odds to become all that He wants me to be?
I’m afraid a lot of the time my life’s been about cowering behind the front line, clinging tightly to my past, my comfort zone, & my false sense of security because, after all, I’m “a really good person.” Isn’t that enough? I mean, God couldn’t ask for more from me than that, right? At least I’m on the field & look! I’m wearing the uniform & it’s even in our team colors!
This whole way of life probably rings true with a lot of us. It’s funny, but as long as we go to the effort to join the social circle at church, participate in some church activities & “make nice” to family & co-workers the rest of the week, we feel like we’ve got a handle on this Christian thing for sure!
I don’t know about you, but I know I have failed to understand our team name. Christian. Way back when, that term was a total dis! Non-believers made it up to make fun of those who were really weird, & by really weird I mean radical, committed followers of Christ.
Okay, okay, I’m going to be considered weird by a lot of people. But WHY are they going to think I’m weird? What am I supposed to be doing? What is my position?
God’s been taking me back to one central theme of His entire Word & THE motivation behind Christ’s whole ministry here on this earth.
“One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matt 22
“If I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing . . . So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” I Cor 13
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3
That’s it, guys. God’s great love is the whole point. Love is the whole reason we’re on the field! And love is what motivates me to change my position from a weak defense to a passionate offense!
Why do we smile at a little child? Love.
Why do we give “that guy” the time of day? Love.
Why do we spend “me” time talking to Jesus instead? Love.
Why do we share the peace Jesus brings with a depressed co-worker? Love.
Why do we instantly pray when we hear of a tragedy on the news? Love.
Why do we want to feed & clothe orphaned children in third world countries? Love.
Why do we throw away the American Dream to live the life God calls us to? Love.
We were designed to desperately need His love & to sacrificially give His love away. What a purpose! What an incredible calling! So, what are we doing to fulfill it? The time for hiding behind my “religiousness” is over. I’m joining God’s offensive line!
“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” I John 3
And I’m cheering for the Ravens. Because my brother thinks they’re cool or something. 
