December 1, 2008 - You Don't Look Like A Player

Have you ever walked into a gym and had to choose up sides? Everyone wanted the players that looked the part – athletic, big, etc. Yet there always seems to be that guy that doesn’t look like a player but once the ball goes up starts lighting everybody up. Maybe he didn’t look the part due to size or age or simply the way he carried himself.

I love seeing those types of surprises. It even happens on the high levels. I wonder how many guys have taken a look at Stephen Curry of Davidson and thought, “he’s a skinny, weak guy – nothing to worry about there.” I think quite a few teams probably thought they could stop him last year. (Of course he has lost that “element of surprise.”)

On a smaller scale is a guy that was my assistant coach last year. He is a small guy with a deep southern accent. He doesn’t look like a basketball guy. Yet he regularly surprises the young studs at the Y or the players at the high school that don’t realize he played for Wake years ago.

These are stories that remind us it is dangerous ground to pre-qualify someone. Yet as believers we do that all the time. We tend to approach, invite, witness to those that we think fit the part. We tend to avoid those that don’t. But the Scriptures are clear in that the message of the Gospel – the Good News – shall be to all men. In fact our Savior went so far as to come as one of those “misfits” as a babe born in a manger.

And don’t forget the first ones to receive the message were the shepherds – not exactly guys way up the social scale definite social “misfits.”

I think we should make it a point this CHRISTmas season to “bring … good tidings of great joy … to all people.” (Luke 2:10)

You know the story – it goes on to say that a Savior was born for us all. We have the completed story. A Savior was born and died for us all!!!!!!

Therefore this CHRISTmas let’s resolve that “… from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh.” (2 Corinthians 5:16) And let’s be “ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: [and let’s]… implore … [others] on Christ’s behalf, [to] be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)

The CHRISTmas story is the Gospel story that is to be shared with everyone – even those that don’t look the part.