Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today, let’s parallel how players, coaches and staff have a responsibility to represent the team at all times.

In today’s scripture, 2 Corinthians 5:19-21 (NLT), the Apostle Paul wrote…
[19] For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. [20] So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” [21] For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Consider…
Being selected, signed or hired by one of thirty-two teams in the NFL is a great privilege. On the player side, it also offers great visibility and recognition by the millions of fans of the team. Because of this, one common speech given by all thirty two organizations is that players must always remember they represent the organization everywhere at all times.

God’s Love & Grace Extenders team has a similar message for those of us who have be chosen by God. In John 15:16-17 (NLT), our head coach Jesus says…
[16] You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. [17] This is my command: Love each other.

Let me pause here briefly. Hundreds of players try out for an NFL team, but only 90 are called or given a chance to make. And that 90 is cut down to 53, which are chosen to represent the team for the season. This reminds me of Jesus’ words in Matthew 22:14 (NLT), where He said…
[14] “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

I think we sometimes forget that we’re chosen by God to represent Him everywhere and at all times. In fact, the Apostle Paul’s appeal to Timothy is applicable to us too. In 2 Timothy 4:1-2 (NIV) he exhorted…
[1] In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: [2] Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

Notice, Paul says preach THE WORD, not your word. This inspires me to exhort us to speak the TRUTH, which is Jesus Christ, and not our truth. That’s because as Dr. Tony Evans says anything that doesn’t agree or align with the TRUTH of God is a lie.

The Holy Spirit wants us to remember and heed, Ephesians 4:14-15 (NLT), which says…
[14] Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. [15] Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

Notice in verse 15, we’re told how to speak the truth…in LOVE! That means how we say things is equally important as what we say. The Holy Spirit corroborated this in Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV), where Paul wrote…
[5] Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. [6] Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

This passage adds behavior expectations to the speech ones discussed thus far. Notice it says be wise in the way we act. That aligns with the addage to ‘think before you act’. And since we’re pausing to think, why not ask what would Jesus do (WWJD) before we do anything. Fortunately we don’t have to wonder what Jesus would do, because our uniform will inform our actions. Reminder, Colossians 3:12-14 (NASB1995)
lays out our uniform…
[12] So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; [13] bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. [14] Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

That means our actions should be…

• Compassionate
• Kind
• Humble
• Gentle
• Patient
• Tolerant
• Forgiving
• Loving

Listing our wardrobe makes me appreciate Jesus over and over again, because everyone of these attributes describe Him! It’s exactly how He is with you and me. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

As you go through today, I encourage you to remember that God expects you to represent Him in your speech and actions everywhere with everyone.

Today’s Song is…
I Want The World To See

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)