Making God’s team

Bulletins

Brian Nielsen
03/10/24 - General

A football player I once knew was at least good enough to get into an NFL preseason camp. He talked about the rigors of learning the team's playbook saying it was the first thing he read when awaking in the morning and the last thing he saw before going to sleep at night.

He did this trying to make the team. Finally, years later, I have come to the realization that if I want to make God's team, i.e. get to heaven, I should be doing the same with God's playbook, the Bible. These days, I just don't feel right walking out my door without having spent some time with God's word. Granted, if I was working an early shift I might find another routine. But as a retiree, certainly, I can do a Bible study before any physical workout, which I also try to make a daily practice. That priority is made clear in 1 Timothy 4:8 which says, "For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come."

No matter what you do each day, don't you think you can feel more prepared when remembering 2 Timothy 3:16-17 -- "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

For every good work, starting the day with the Bible can help.

Same with ending the day. Which is a better way to go to bed - upset with someone or something from work, a disagreement with a friend or a family member, maybe even a frustrating ballgame, or with encouragement from God? This includes Ephesians 4:26-27 saying -- " 'Be angry, and do not sin': do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil."

This morning and night reading of the Bible idea certainly did not start with me or even from the football player studying his playbook. Concerning His Word, God instructed in Deuteronomy 6:7, "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."

If you are saying there is more to following God's word than reading the Bible, you are absolutely right. As for constant practices, we can include Psalm 55:16-17 -- "As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice."

Still not enough, you might say? Yes, you are probably thinking of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 -- "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing."

God doesn't want part-time players on His team.

(Scripture quotes are from the NKJV