Read Romans 12:9-18
ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17 NLT).
One of my more favorite shows as of late is a show my the name of Ted Lasso. Jason Sudekis plays the titular role, an American Football Coach who is hired by Rebecca Welton to coach her Premier Association Football Club (AFC) Richmond. Of course, this is silly because NFL Football is not at all like AFC Football. The two are totally different sports. In the U.S.A., to the chagrin of the rest of the world, we differentiate between the two by calling the former “Football” and the latter “Soccer”.
The show, which just ended it’s third and final season, is a treasure trove of positivity and theological/philosophical musings that really give this series a different feel from most others. There’s something wholesome (despite some adult content), pure, and inspirational about it. It hits us at our most human and vulnerable levels. It makes one laugh, cry, and reflect. It is a great show.
In one of the episodes, AFC Richmond has a chance to defeat a team and regain premier status after it had become relegated, meaning (for those not accustomed to U.K. Football) the team had lost its status in the premier league and was relegated to the English Football League (EFL) Championship. Having done well throughout the season, this was their opportunity to really shine; however, none of the team members really believed they could win.
In fact, Ted had come to hear a phrase circling around the locker room as well as the offices and pub: “It’s the hope that kills you.” In other words, people seem to hold on to hope that they can defeat the odds. They hold on to hope that they can be David against their proverbial Goliaths; however, in reality, we all know that most Davids end up dead. That’s the way of the world. If one holds on to hope long enough, or so the cynics say, one will fall victim to defeat and the realization that all is hopeless.
That is a terrible way to think, but in this world it is the way things seem to work a majority of the time. Of course, that perception is really baseless because we really don’t know how things work a majority of the time; yet, we believe that all is hopeless because we cannot see the way that hope provides. In other words, it is due to our own blindness and an inability to see ways forward that we fail, not due to hope. Yes, we can fail in trying to attain things we hopefore; however, the real failure lies in not hoping at all.
That is exactly how Ted Lasso saw it. Sure, they could end up playing against their opponent and losing yet, if they played their hearts out, they could at least live with the fact that they tried. They could LIVE with that fact and try again the next time. If, however, they lost all hope they would not put in a 100% because what’s the point? Why try if you KNOW you are going to lose and all is hopeless?
It was then, in that realization, that Ted called them back to hope. He told them he didn’t like their phrase, “It’s the hope that kills you” very much because he believed it was hope that led you to salvation…to strive to be your very best…to attain things otherwise improbable. Ted told them that back where he’s from (Kansas) they also had a phrase or, more like, a question: “Do you believe in miracles?”
If you have hope in miracle, if you have hope that the improbable and even the impossible can happen because there is a Guiding Force above you, working in and through you to bring about the miracle you were created to be. Whether that is in athletics such as football or it is in mission and ministry within the church, each of us are called to be miracles. From the moment we were conceived we ARE miracles as life is never guaranteed to anyone. What’s more, since we are LVIING MIRACLES in this world, we are called to NOT ONLY believe, but live out our FAITH!
So, like Ted Lasso, I ask you this question: Do you believe in miracles? Do you believe that LIFE is a miracle and that, as such, you are a LIVING MIRACLE? If so, let me clue you into this: miracles exist to bring glory to God! That is our purpose and we can do that through whatever gifts and/or means God has given us! Let us not only believe in miracles, but BE MIRACLES in the world.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
“I believe in hope. I believe in belief…Do you believe in miracles?” – Ted LassoPRAYER
Lord, help me to never lose my faith. Help my unbelief and give me the hope and faith that I need to move mountains in your name and for your glory. Amen.