November 24, 2008 - Play A Great Game!

Over the weekend one of my former players was in a tourney in Puerto Rico. He led his team in scouring in 2 of the 3 games. He didn’t have any turnovers in the 3 games while logging a lot of minutes. He played strong “D” throughout. All in all I would have to say he had a pretty good weekend.

Yet once the coaches go through the game film I am sure they will find some missed assignments and other problems. That is what happens in the film sessions. The coaches actually set out to look for what you did wrong. Yeah I know we can put a positive spin on it and say they are also looking for what is right, yet that is not the big reason for the viewing. The coaches want to see where they can improve.

Can you imagine how great you would have to play for the coaches to look at 3 games and not find any fault in your game?

I was reading in the book of Daniel and reminded about how flawlessly he was “playing the game.” This young man was getting recognition from the king for his “excellent spirit.” (Daniel 6:30) The king was planning to put him in charge over the kingdom.

The other leaders were very jealous of this and set out to find fault in Daniel. They began looking at the “game film” of his life and could find no fault. The Scriptures declare that Daniel was faithful and had committed no “turnovers” in their presence. What an awesome testimony!

What if people were looking at the “game film” of your life? What would they find? I’m not talking about your past; I am talking about the present. Would fault be found in you? Are you faithful? Coach John Wooden loved to ask’ “If you were on trial for being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

Let me encourage you to “play a great game”!

We know the story of Daniel in the lions’ den. The governors and satraps devised a wicked plan to try to force Daniel into worshipping the king – knowing Daniel would not forsake the law of God and do so. Daniel was caught in the trap. The thing I love is that the king even recognized the truth. He knew that God would deliver Daniel.

16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” (Daniel 6)