Team Player

I Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

For the last week and a half, I've been listening to a 3 part message from Pastor Francis Chan of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley. I just happened to find it posted on a blog that I periodically look at - but it was an appointment of God. I have listened to these messages at least 6 times, and I can't get enough of what he is saying. The idea that we, as Christ followers, are now part of a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God - collectively, together we are to declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.

We are part of the ultimate team! Our motivation for holding each other accountable in our marriages, our work ethics, our friendships, etc. is because we play life together, and we are on the same team - The Team! We want our team to be strong, so we support each other, hold each other up when one is falling, we are right there to help get the ball in the basket for a rebound, block the opposing team's player from sacking the quarterback, laying our body down to prevent the puck going into the net. All for the sake of the team.

As Francis, mentions in the message, we Americans are such individualists, that this concept of being a part of a bigger family, and reading all the "yous" in the Bible as "you alls" is foreign to us. Being a light unto the world, is not my sole responsibility - being this one little light on a hill - but we, collectively - you and you and you and me together - be a light unto this world. Why is that so amazing? Because there are times when I don't like you and you and you. And you all don't like me! And yet, God still calls us to love each other, in spite of being mad, hurt and disappointed with one another.

Jesus said in John 13:34-35 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

This is the hard part, and yet it is so critical. Everyone knows that the above verse is impossible in our humanness. And yet, when we choose to behave in such a way where we love each other as brothers and sisters in Christ, forgive each other and still purse a relationship - even after we have been gossiped about, cheated on, lied to...whatever - that is when the light of Christ shines. When someone asks us - how can you do that? How can you love that person? How can you forgive that person? Who does that?? And we point to Jesus, the one who did that for us. Talking about Jesus isn't enough. We have to live it. Not "I" have to live it, but "we" have to live - together, collectively - because we are a new nation, a new race, a royal priesthood - that means more than one.

2009 is the year that I choose to get off the bench and play with The Team on the field.

If you are interested, here are the messages from Francis Chan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9iJSkn5jwQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erAKSj1ljHY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDZWlaOJ_xw