Team Player

 Being a good team player only requires you to show up for practice, do what you are instructed to do and use the talents that you have. Being a great team player requires you to not only show up for practice and use your talents, but also to study, train, practice on your own, and help others that are challenged before and after your scheduled  practice time. A great team player eats, sleeps and lives their position daily. They always look for ways to be an even better player, they crave MVP status. They look for ways to out think their opponents. They practice what they know until they are able to do it without conscious thought. Others see them and know that they are ready for the game. Coaches love great players, it makes their job so much easier, but they need the whole team to play with the same passion as the greatest player. A coach is only as good as his worst player and the coach doesn't make the team, the team makes the coach.

So it is with us and God. God has given us a detailed playbook, all we have to do is execute the plays daily. Remember, He promised us victory, no matter what happens in our lives. Our responsibility is to be like the great team player. We must study His word, learn His word, live His word and then we will be able to really help the Kingdom team gain the victory. People should know we are members of the Kingdom team and ready to defeat anything that comes against God's word. But if you aren't ready, you can't help the team and the enemy gains ground. You should go after MVP status, even if you don't ever achieve that status, at least you gave your best. Remember, it's better to aim for the stars and miss than it is to aim for the ceiling and touch it. God wants your best, He gave it to you, so why not exercise it. God is good all by Himself, but how much greater would you be if you desired to be a great team player for His Kingdom team? How would you feel if God took back what He has given you because you weren't using it to the best of your ability. That's what happens to athletes, if they don't use their gifts and talents, no matter how good they are they will loose it. Their ability is not the same as it used to be and it requires more training, more dedication, and more effort to do what used to come so naturally to them. Don't let your gifts and talents get away from you. Study, pray and go after God with great desire. He is faithful to do what He said He would do....are you faithful enough to do what He desires of you?  

So I challenge you to be a great team player. Do more than just go to church on Sunday and Bible study. Do more than be a member on the role at church.  Be more than just a member of a ministry. But be an MVP for the Kingdom, study His word daily, learn His word and hide it in your heart, and live His word in such a way that others have no doubt about whose team you are on. I can't tell you that it will be easy, then I would be lying to you, but I can say that the trophy you get for enduring until the end of the season is sooooo worth all the hard work and sacrifice!!

Luv Ya!!
IB