BOWL GAMES AND JESUS CHRIST

Written by Luz Leigh – 31 December 2007

      During the past week or so and for another week to come, there have been, and will be, Bowl Games galore. I like to watch a little football, but these bowl games have sort of lost their significance. Years ago there were only a handful and they were played on New Year‘s Day or very close to it. Now it seems that if your college doesn’t make it to the BIG ones, you get enough support and viola’….you have yourself a bowl game.

      In our local newspaper there are two full pages devoted to some thirty-two bowl games, beginning with the Poinsettia Bowl on December 20^th and ending with the BCS National Championship on 7^th of January. I know these colleges are thrilled to be playing in a “bowl” game and the cities in which they are played are most happy to have the crowds who will come and spend money while there. I guess I shouldn’t be knocking the Bowl Games; after all no less than five Texas teams were picked to participate. Holiday Bowl, Texas Bowl, Alamo Bowl and Gator Bowl.

      What does all this have to do with anything? Not a whole lot, but I wanted to get your attention.

      All those Bowls are important to some people, but probably not to all. But, in the Super Bowl XLI, which of course, is for the professional football teams, something very unusual occurred last year. The two teams, Indianapolis Colts who won, and the Chicago Bears, were both coached by professing Christian head coaches. Tony Dungy, of the Colts, and Lovie Smith of the Bears, proudly confessed Jesus “before men” as we are taught to do.

      In Matthew 10:32 Jesus said, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.” Jesus was about to send out his Twelve Disciples on a mission; a mission on which they could very well face hostility from religious and civil authorities. He was urging the Twelve to remain faithful to Him.

      Today we are admonished to do the same. We are promised the presence of the Holy Spirit who will abide in us, strengthen us, and guide us.

      I fully believe that last year as Mr. Dungy and Mr. Smith stood on their respective sidelines, the Holy Spirit was there giving them the courage to do the right thing. To set an example, not just for their families and the men whom they coached, but for the entire world to see that Jesus Christ is real to them.

      How I thank God for men like these. Oh, that more of our men, and women, in places of leadership in sports would take such a bold stand. Most of us will never stand before the world, in front of TV cameras, but may we always pray this simple prayer:

      Father, help me to witness for You, faithfully, whatever the cost.