Late last night, somewhat in jest, I updated my Facebook status to read: All is right with the world...Celtics beat Lakers by 39 to win the title. It's been a long-suffering twenty two years and nine days between titles for my beloved Celtics, and watching them put on a great game last night was one of the most enjoyable times I've had lately. To hear the commentators talk before the series, it was a foregone conclusion in many circles that the Lakers would run all over the Celtics and that this would not even be close. Well, they were half-right: it wasn't even close. In two of their record-setting performances in this series (game four, where they overcame a twenty-four point second quarter deficit and last night's game six, where they were up forty-three and won by thirty-nine), as well as the rest of the series, it became evident that what Boston's major advantage was came from their bench - the role players who don't get much ink, or playing time (in most situations), came up big; and without a strong and deep bench, where everyone knew their role and played it to perfection, the Lakers would probably be celebrating a championship right now. For those of you who may not be aware, the Lakers won what was supposed to be the most difficult conference and had the regular-season MVP on their roster.
So what does any of this have to do with the church, God, or our faith? Well, for starters, when Boston faced their huge deficit in game four, they could have easily "mailed it in" and come back for the next game. However, they endured, persevered, and got the victory. How many times when we face times of trial or difficulty are we tempted to just throw in the towel? Remember Paul's words from Romans: "[W]e also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Much like a sports team down big in the middle of a game, we have a choice when dealing with life - we can give up, or dig in and remember that through Christ's victory over evil on Good Friday, the light will ALWAYS overcome the darkness.
Another thing we must remember is that everyone has a vital role to play in the life of the church. Without the contributions of the the entire team, there is no way the Celtics would have won. From the future hall-of-famers to the guys at the end of the bench - this was a team win. We cannot allow ourselves as the church to ever think that we are not needed, that we don't have anything to offer, or that some are more important than others. Paul's writings in several places talk very directly about the body of Christ and the parts thereof.
Whether in Bible study, Sunday School, worship, the missions ministries, committee work, or anything else - we must not forget that there is no part of the church, its life, or its membership that is not important.
See You Sunday!
Lamar
So what does any of this have to do with the church, God, or our faith? Well, for starters, when Boston faced their huge deficit in game four, they could have easily "mailed it in" and come back for the next game. However, they endured, persevered, and got the victory. How many times when we face times of trial or difficulty are we tempted to just throw in the towel? Remember Paul's words from Romans: "[W]e also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Much like a sports team down big in the middle of a game, we have a choice when dealing with life - we can give up, or dig in and remember that through Christ's victory over evil on Good Friday, the light will ALWAYS overcome the darkness.
Another thing we must remember is that everyone has a vital role to play in the life of the church. Without the contributions of the the entire team, there is no way the Celtics would have won. From the future hall-of-famers to the guys at the end of the bench - this was a team win. We cannot allow ourselves as the church to ever think that we are not needed, that we don't have anything to offer, or that some are more important than others. Paul's writings in several places talk very directly about the body of Christ and the parts thereof.
Whether in Bible study, Sunday School, worship, the missions ministries, committee work, or anything else - we must not forget that there is no part of the church, its life, or its membership that is not important.
See You Sunday!
Lamar
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