In a recent blog post, I stated how, as believers, we are on the winning team in Christ – Team Jesus. Which is something to be thankful for in these uncertain times in which we live. Because of this, we KNOW how the story will ultimately end and, like I said, our team WINS! How reassuring that is, right?
As I was writing that post, it registered a memory in my head of younger days. Days from junior high school PE class. (yes, I just aged myself as it is now middle school, but I won’t say how much. 😉) Some days in PE class two students were assigned by the PE teacher the role of choosing a team for class to play basketball, volleyball, softball, etc. These students were very athletic, but I, on the other hand, was not. Instead of instructing HOW to actually play the sport, she just divided us into teams by this method and we played the chosen sport of the day. My parents were not into sports so playing sports wasn’t something they encouraged. Needless to say, my athletic skills were lacking.
I was usually one of the VERY last to be chosen.
That was so embarrassing and so very awkward. I can imagine each “team” leader was hoping the other would pick me…. I could go on a rant about how awful that was for the teacher to do, and I never understood WHY it was done this way, but I won’t. Let’s just say it encouraged me to learn some skills on my own. I even remember when I started high school and going to football games was the thing to do on Friday nights, I looked up the rules of the game in the encyclopedia (I know, I just aged myself yet again 😊. Encyclopedias were the “google” of the day.) so at least I would have some idea of what the heck was going on. A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do, right?
So I learned some football rules, and, yes, I did learn some sport skills on my own. And while I’m not great or anything, it’s fun to shoot hoops, or hit a baseball, and play volleyball. Perhaps I wouldn't be chosen last now for the junior high PE "team"...
But, honestly, that is NOT what this post is about.
While I was usually chosen LAST or nearly last for the “PE team”, God made me and chose ME to be on His team. Not first. Not last. Simply chosen. Just as he has for everyone. Now in school when chosen for the PE “team”, we joined in with the rest of the group to play as we didn’t have a choice in the matter. We played, as best we could, or we didn’t get a grade.
But in this life, we have a choice to be on Team Jesus. While he chooses us, we must choose Him.
At the age of twelve, I chose to be on Team Jesus. My dad showed me in God’s word how Jesus was born, died and rose again for us all to have eternal life.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Romans 10:9-10 If you confess with your mouth, the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whosoever believes in Him, will not perish but have everlasting life.
I was chosen for the team long before I was ever born, but it was my choice to accept His offer. It was my choice to join His team. I didn’t have to wait all embarrassed and awkward like in junior high school for my name to be called.
I can’t earn it and I don’t have to be “good” enough to be on His team.
There is NOTHING I can do that makes me good enough to be chosen for His team unlike being chosen to be on that PE team in junior high school. And oh how very thankful I am for this because I am so VERY imperfect. I must accept the gift. The gift of His son.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
This puts me on the roster of the winning team!
I am so thankful to be on the winning team. I am so glad that God’s word instructs me, and I am not left wondering how to play in this game called life. I’m so glad that as a believer, I know how the game of life – the story - will end. Because sometimes this life does not make sense. All of the heartache and struggle… To know my team wins and to know how the story ends gives me the hope I need to continue in this life until God chooses to bring me to my eternal home.
You have been chosen.
What will you do with that? Will you accept the offer to be on the winning team... Team Jesus?
Comments