"Play hard. Play smart. Play together. Have fun."
This was written on top of the whiteboard in the locker room before each of my high school basketball games. Even now in my life I relate to this so much. I have been out of high school for almost five years now and this still touches me deeply. Even more so as a Christian.
"Play hard." I should always be giving my best to the Lord, because He is always giving His best to me. In my beginning years of college I was very lukewarm. I didn't fully surrender and go hard for God. And I was completely unsatisfied. However, starting at the end of my sophomore year of college a reawakening of my faith shook my world. I surrendered everything little by little and now I'm playing my hardest for God. And I've never been more satisfied and full. A determination that has sent me all around the world proclaiming His good works.
"Play smart." In high school, I rarely practiced basketball outside of designated practice times. I rarely watched basketball or studied people's strategies. However, at practice I gave my all and played well. Truthfully I could've been a lot better athlete and player if I had done these things. I would have increased my knowledge. In this same way, until I was ending my sophomore year I rarely read the Word. I rarely practiced dying to myself and walking in full obedience. How could I play smart if I never increased my knowledge and understanding of God? Now, I want nothing more than to sit in a hammock and read the Word or listen to a podcast from my favorite pastor or just talk with my Daddy.
"Play together." Basketball is a team effort and so is Christianity. Many times a teammate or fellow believer are hard to get a long with. You clash. Your skills are at a different level or maybe even similar causing you to judge or compare. Giving you a desire to compete against one another for most points in a game or most eloquent description of salvation. But if you keep up these mentalities you will destroy yourself and your team. The morale will be eaten away and you'll make no progress. We are a body of Christ for a reason. Each person having their own purpose and function.
"Have fun." In competitive sports we can forget this easily. The scoreboard isn't in our favor so we start to take on more than what is in our position. Or when there's a yelling parent in the stands watching each dribble and shot. Christianity is pretty similar. We think we are losing a battle when circumstances seem to bombard us. We forget that we fight from victory and when God is for us, nothing can stop us. We fear the judgment of others and begin to act out of fear of their response instead of what the Coach (the Holy Spirit) says. Jesus didn't die on a cross to save us from our sins so we can be miserable on this earth. He died so we can bring some freedom and Heaven to earth. And I'm pretty sure Heaven is gonna be pretty fun.
The last thing that stands out from playing ball in high school is another thing my coach would say, "Don't react to bad calls. You can only control what you do. Someone makes a bad pass; be sure you don't. You're only responsible for your actions." Man, this one hits me hard. When one of my brothers or sisters in Christ wrong me or even wrong themselves, I get frustrated. I want to help or change them. It's my gut reaction. Yet all I can control is me. Not the refs (circumstances), teammates (fellow believers), my competition (the enemy), or the audience (unbelievers). I can just focus on me and the game; my role in the game. Me and Jesus; my purpose on earth.
It's time to get in the game. And I'm all in. Are you?
