Jesusluvsall's Blog

It begins today. A new college football season begins today in America. Where I live the passion for our team has been reignited because of a new coach and the hopes for the “glory days” to return. The zeal the fans have is intense and it isn’t just for football. The women’s volleyball team has rabid fans. When the football team travels to play in at another school, the fans for our team are unmatched for how well they travel and support their team.

I am a big fan as well and I enjoy watching games. Please do not misunderstand me. I don’t think there is anything wrong with enjoying sports, going to games, cheering for your team.

It’s just that it would be so awesome if those of use who profess to follow Jesus had at least the same passion for serving him and loving others in his name that we do for sports. It would be incredible if our passion for Jesus and serving him by far surpassed our passion for sports.

What impact would we have in our communities and the world if we were passionate about prayer, worship, and sharing the love of Jesus?

I realize we all have different callings, but one thing that has concerned me is the lack of people desiring to be ‘laborers in the harvest’ that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 9:

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

The lost and hurting souls around us desperately need the love of our Savior. Jesus was filled with overwhelming compassion for them because he saw them as being helpless.  Jesus is passionate about us, so much so that he left heaven to come to earth to die for us.

The way to have some of the compassion Jesus has for others is to spend time with Jesus and ask him to fill us with his compassion for the suffering. It is a life changing thing to pray and if we pray it, he will give us opportunities to see how we respond.

There is a special camaraderie I experience when I spend time with the few others I am aware of who seek to share the love of Jesus with refugees and immigrants living in my city. How I wish there were more involved.

I remember when I played sports especially the two football teams I played on that were undefeated. We experienced the joy that comes from success because of the hard work we put in during practice. There were smiles on the sideline. We would high five each other after good plays. Those two years we had a vibrant sense of team.

What if we as the church had that kind of passion that we would high five each other because of serving Jesus? because of working together, spending time preparing together? Perhaps then we will experience what Psalm 126 talks about:

“Those who sow with tears
    will reap with songs of joy.
 Those who go out weeping,
    carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
    carrying sheaves with them.”

Thank you for reading. God Bless.