Today’s Bread ~ Tebowmania
18 Jan
1 Thessalonians 5:18 – No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Confession: I haven’t pulled for the Denver Broncos since I lived in Highlands Ranch, Colorado from 1990 to 1994. And even then, those who know me well might say I didn’t care one way or another about football or any other sport, for that matter.
They wouldn’t be entirely wrong.
But on Saturday, January 14th, I sat on our couch with my husband, fervently hoping for the miracle.
The miracle didn’t come. Tom Brady and the New England Patriots soundly beat the Broncos 45-10 without ever breaking a sweat, and the Broncos supernatural Super Bowl hopes faded like smoke rising from a blown out flame.
“NO MIRACLE!” screamed the Huffington Post. “Pats Slam Broncos,” read the front page of Sports Illustrated dot com. “Total Domination” glared out across The Boston Herald. And even in the heart of Tebow Town, the Denver Post admitted that “the Broncos still have a long, long, long way to go.”
For many, Tim Tebow signified something greater than a Super Bowl ring. He signified hope in something greater than ourselves.
I wonder how many evangelical Christians joined me in a chorus of prayer:
Please, God, I know that this is so trivial. I know that in the grand scheme of things this game is sub-nothing. But please give the Broncos this miracle. Tim will give you the glory, and this will cause so many non-Christians to question their atheism and agnosticism.
Even while I silently petitioned God for the victory, I knew that I was not praying alongside His will. But hey, I figured, according to James 4:2, we have not because we ask not; right?
While my heart hoped for the win, my head knew the likely outcome. My prayer for Mr. Tebow this week has been that He would glorify God anyway. Even the most lukewarm Christians will thank God after a win. Are not the most influential individuals the ones who praise Him through the storms (and I am not suggesting that a lost football game is a storm)? My mind turns to the words of Pastor Matt Chandler a few years ago, upon learning that he had an aggressive form of brain cancer: “He can heal me. I believe He will heal me. But even if He doesn’t, He’s still God, and He’s still good.”
Tebow’s words after the game give us a glimpse into his character and his faith:
“It still wasn’t a bad day. It still was a good day, because I got to spend some time before the game with Zack McLeod [a 20-year- old Cambridge native who suffered a traumatic brain injury playing football] and made him smile, and overall when you get to do that, it’s still a positive day. Sometimes that’s hard to see, but it depends what lens you’re looking through. I choose to look through those lenses, and I got to make a kid’s day, that’s more important than winning the game. So, I am proud of that.”
What lens are you looking through?
Hebrews 11:24-26 – It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be treated as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of the Messiah than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the great reward that God would give him.
It is very easy to get caught up in the cares and concerns of the moment. But when we trust in Christ for our salvation, He gives us a new set of
lenses. He enables us to, through His Spirit, view life through the lens of eternity.
What lens are you looking through?
A temporal lens views a lost football game as a crushing defeat. An eternal lens sees it for what it is: a momentary disappointment that means little in the grand scheme of things. A temporal lens sees the position of quarterback in the NFL as an opportunity for fame and fortune. An eternal lens calls it an opportunity to shine for Christ and bring hope to the less fortunate.
The successful see life through a temporal lens. They live, they succeed, and they die. But the Great view life through an eternal lens. They live, they love, and when they leave, they leave a legacy.
Tim Tebow is not the most successful quarterback in the NFL. But to 20 year old Zack McLeod and many, many others, he is certainly the greatest.
John 12:46 –“ I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the darkness.”
Dear Heavenly Father, You have stationed Your people in every occupation. Thank you for their witness, and their willingness to shine Your light
in the face of scorn. Thank you for those around the world willing to suffer even the worst persecution for the sake of Your Great Name. We pray for their strength, and that they would feel You near. Let them be an example to us, Lord. Inspire us to be bold for You! Let us never forget the magnitude of the cross, and what it means to be a Christ-follower. We love You so much Lord, and we pray these things in the beautiful name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Love it!! How strange is our society that Tim Tebow is labeled “weird” because he chooses to be a role model that does not drink, party, do drugs, or shoot himself in the leg with his own gun at a nightclub ?!? If only more pro athletes were that way!!
I think they way Tim Tebow professes his faith without shame is a great example to our kids. Our boys need role models like him as a way to to know that it’s okay to be different, it’s okay to behave in a Christian manner, and it’s okay to publicly acknowledge Christ in all you do. The fact that he acknowledged what he does off the field is so much more important than the score at the end of the game tells you much about his character.
Tim Tebow has everyone talking! That’s a good thing. I think we need to be intentional about how we are going to respond to non-Christians’ comments. Speak the truth in love!
We can use the Superbowl as a point of witness with the Power to Win DVD and a family fun gathering. And we can show our kids winners can be godly, pure, AND fun!
Let’s pray for Tim to be able to keep up his testimony!