FULLBACK NAMED JESUS
1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
American football is a game in which twelve-year-old Jeremy wants to excel. A Many young men aspire to play this game so well that maybe one day the coveted National Football League will draft him. The payday is rich for these men. But the best prizes awarded to NFL players are national exposure and team brotherhood.
Each week, selected games are televised so that fans can root for their favorite team. Sunday is when most televised games are aired—all day! Monday Night Football has grown to a national event. Thursday night football can only be viewed on the premier “Football Network”—that most cable companies include—for a price.
The fullback protects running backs. When these players run with the football, the fullback disrupts (blocks, tackles, or interferes) the defense. The fullback’s job is to eliminate attacks that prevent the running backs from scoring a touchdown. Preventing touchdowns is the opposing team’s (the enemy’s) defensive job.
This teamwork provides a job for each of the team’s members. Teamwork builds brotherhood. Each member depends on others’ successful performance in order to win the game (score the most points).
Believers’ real “enemy”, the devil, tries to disrupt Christian hearts. Football Sunday. Really? Isn’t Sunday the Sabbath day reserved for worshipping God? The devil so wants to interfere with his real enemy—Christians.
Every time Believers pray the Lord’s Prayer, we’re inviting Jesus to rule our lives. (Your kingdom come, Your will be done).
Jesus is Christians’, or kingdom-follower’s fullback. When Jesus rules our lives, He: 1) blocks the devil’s hold on our lives, 2) tackles the devil so that he cannot harm us, 3) runs interference so that we’re not distracted or overwhelmed.
Take Home Nugget
But before Jesus may run fullback in Christian lives, we need to confess His LORD ship. (Do you remember that God gave people free will)? Why should Jesus interfere, block, and tackle our enemy if we don’t even acknowledge Him?
Why would Jesus block for us if we don’t even recognize that opposing kingdoms—dark and light—exist? Jesus defeated the devil when He rose from the dead. Our part is to say aloud that Jesus is our LORD IF we want His protection.
Let’s crave exposure and brotherhood too. We receive both when we worship among fellow saints in church.
Holy Father, I choose to welcome Your kingdom into the world. I choose to welcome Jesus to reign in my life. Strengthen me to always step back and allow Jesus to block my enemy first. Then empower me to accomplish the tasks You’ve assigned me to complete each day. Amen!
A See previous devotion, “Thank You Therapy 4 Peace” and check the lesson linked below for Jesus’ role after His resurrection.
Adapted from “Who’s Got Your Back?” by Dr. Tony Evans. www.UrbanAlternative@LightSource.com. December 1, 2017.
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