We are currently in the thick of sports with our littles. Actually, correction, I think we are just getting started. My kids are currently 8, 4 and 15 months old. So yeah, we are just getting started. We’ve tried a lot of sports already. Soccer, Dance, Gymnastics, Flag Football, Karate, and that’s not even all of them. Recently, both our 8-year-old son and our 4-year-old daughter started playing ice hockey. Let me just tell you, there is nothing cuter than a 4-year-old little girl in ice hockey gear.
So, you might guess that “The Mighty Ducks” has been the reoccurring movie of choice on movie nights. We got our son a “Banks” Mighty Ducks Jersey (if you know you know).
He’s all about that team. He wants to be a Mighty Duck one day.
One day at practice, my husband and I were talking about how fun it has been to watch them get so excited about something, to love an activity so much that they look forward to working hard at it. One little boy has a “Conway” Mighty Ducks Jersey so he and my son naturally took to each other.
We talk a lot about team work. My husband and I have both coached different ages and sports in recreational leagues for our kids and not matter what the team sport, we always talk about being a team player.
My husband was reminded of a quote a guy he used to work with would say. It goes like this:
“We need to focus more on the name on the front of the jersey, and less on the name on the back”. Meaning, we need to focus more on the team as a whole and how we are growing together, than on ourselves individually.
This got me thinking, wow, what if the body of Christ worked that way? What if we all focused more on advancing the kingdom and growing together instead of our own individual desires. This tends to go against what society will tell you. Phrases like “You do you”, “Speak your truth” and “Treat Yourself” bombard us, usually accompanied with confetti and flashing lights making it look pretty and right.
Let’s go to scripture sister and see what God says about working together as the body of Christ.
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Romans 12:4-5
“Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” Philippians 2:2
“For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:9
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Galatians 5:13
Ya’ll, that is just 10 verses. I encourage you to take some time to read through these scriptures (and find more on your own) and pray and meditate on how you can focus more on eternity and living in light of being a part of the body of Christ!
I challenge you to write down 1-3 things you can do to be more involved with others or invest more in the body of Christ. Maybe it’s get involved in a bible study group or small group. Maybe its sign up to serve in the nursery or kitchen at your church. Write it down then go out there and DO IT!
Let’s be team players that focus more on the name on the front of the jersey than the name on the back.
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