July 3, 2023 - Miracle on Ice

In 1980, legendary hockey coach, Herb Brooks, took a group of diverse players… some that were bitter rivals… and persuaded them to lay down their egos for the sake of whom they were playing for… and Team USA won the “Miracle on Ice” against the Soviet Union team. Brooks reminded his players that the name on the front of their jerseys was what was important!

Brooks convinced this group of college stars to buy into a common game plan… to be on the same page with one another and put behind how they may have played in the past…

When one becomes a Christian, he “puts on a new jersey”! Yet, as Christians, we still remember how we used to play… at times we can fall back into it, either by forgetting the new “plays” – or – willfully choosing the old to try to feed our egos.

At a time of year where we celebrate freedom, can I remind us of a couple truths?

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty (freedom); only do not use liberty (freedom) as an opportunity for the flesh, BUT THROUGH LOVE SERVE ONE ANOTHER! Galatians 5:13

Do you see it… freedom is for the good of the team!

In Ephesians 5:7 Paul is telling us to “not be partakers with” those living in sin… he goes on in verse 8 and says, “For you were once darkness…” (That was our old team!) “…but now you are light in the Lord…” (our new team) “Walk as children of light…”

Do you see it… in each of the passages from the Playbook I shared, there is a command to play according to the new game plan… [NOTE: A COMMAND INDICATES IT IS POSSIBLE FOR US TO PLAY LIKE BEING ON OUR OLD TEAM]

In Ephesians, Paul goes on to describe the new game plan as being servants, submitting to others.

I love the story of the “Miracle on Ice” – BUT – it has nothing on the story/mystery that Paul writes of in Ephesians… a mystery of Jew and Gentile (diverse people) becoming one… and I echo his sentiments:

“…that I should preach… the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship (teamwork) of the mystery…” Ephesians 3:8-9

The name on the front of your jersey is what the mystery is all about… the new team you are a part of… the new game plan you are called to…

Great teams have players committed to putting the past way of playing behind, and buying into a common goal… common game plan… BECOMING ONE! This mystery is the real miracle!!!