How Do I Relate?

John 16

Wow! Those were some great games yesterday afternoon and evening! My predictions came true, I was dead on, in fact. I just knew a recent champ would reign in one of the games, and there would be some excitement and disappointment, though each temporary, on either side. I also predicted that in the other game there would be a great deal of talk on both sides, and that it really was anyone’s game, a game that could literally be decided by just a few ticks on the clock. I knew also that the team leader would ultimately be responsible for the success or failure of the team, and as soon as the leader relaxes and takes his focus off the field, he gets quickly pounced on.

So in honesty, as of this morning, I have no idea who won the NFL games yesterday. I have my guesses, and I’ll find out later, I’m sure. No, I predicted that the recent ski-jump champion in our house would prevail against any and all comers. And He (that’s me!) did. Oh, it was close, but try as they might, my family could not unseat me. Then there’s the tried-and-true obstacle course, a game left for the youth in our homes. Oh, dad tried it, and as usual, crashed and burned on the second section. And the boys, yeah, they took dad to school on that one. And the little one, just as predicted, when the leader (me) tried to rest his head on the floor, his back was too inviting, and OOOMMPH! My back became a landing zone for a 2-year-old. With all the places to sit, comfortably, on dad seems to be the choicest seat in our “stadium”. I just don’t have cup holders in the seat!

John opens chapter 16, quoting Jesus who is reminding us that all the instruction he just gave prior was intended to keep us from stumbling. Jesus wants us to keep from sin, from struggling through life. Sure, life can be difficult, and Jesus helps us through those times, and yet when we bring the calamity on ourselves, He is telling us it is because we have lost our focus on the Savior, with our fellow Christians and families, and our proper relationship with the world around us. And the world around us sees our families.

John then ends this chapter with one of the most re-assuring texts in Scripture, again with Jesus doing the talking. “…take courage: I have overcome the world.” In essence, God knows where we live, and He understands the times that we encounter. And He may have to wonder why it is we cling so desperately to the trappings around us, why we so love this world that He has overcome. He wants us so badly to spend our quality time with Him, with His people, and showing the world how the “different” life of the Christian is to be so joyful.

For me, that means family, and if I can bring up a strong one for Him, then maybe my kids will do the same when they have families of their own. Such is my daily prayer for them and for God to use them mightily for Him.

It could have been easy last night to feel like I “missed” something by not watching some football games, games that I would imagine were rather exciting by some standards. I knew my family wanted dad to play with them, and that was a “game” I could not turn my back on. Had I chosen to do something other than give them my time and energy, I could surely say today that I would have “missed” something, something far more important than anything else on which I could have spent that time and energy. To be honest, I haven’t watched football in years, exciting as it can be, so last night was not a big momentous decision to forego the lure of the NFL. And God continually reminds me of the importance of my family and how time is so fleeting, and thus the choice to spend the time with them and giving them my attention is something I strive hard to do, for Him. He gave this family to me to care for and nurture, and I pray I take that seriously enough.

Dads, we (should) step on that playing field every day, and as the leaders, if we take our focus off the game plan, our real opponents, this world and Satan and his followers, will score some decisive victories. And I guess I can’t help being preachy today. When I read John 16 this morning, and He opens with the caution from stumbling, and closes with a reminded of who really wins in the end, the challenge seems ever-so-present today to step up my game many notches. I’ll live and serve in this world, because my team needs a leader to show them how to live for the true Victor. The head of our house, Jesus Christ, handed that role to me.

Next game? Hmmmm, maybe Bingo or Yahtzee. Those tend to level the playing field, not so much skill involved. Game on!