Staying at Home

UT travels to Georgia this weekend for a big game. Well, it's big for fans of UT and UGA anyway. When 2-3 goes up against 1-4 not too many people really care.

I started thinking though, what if UT decided to stay in Knoxville? Seriously. What if they thought it would be more beneficial for them to stay at home and not face the grind, fight, and struggle of the football game in Athens? Obviously, this would not be smart. They would end up losing the game because of a forfeit. Yes, they might have kept their uniforms clean and saved some energy, but in the end, they lost what matters: The Game.

Matthew 5:13-16 is a command to all Christians. It's a call to go play the game. Jesus has said that we are to be salt and light. People ought to know we follow Him because of the things we do in the world. Do you think God is happy that most Christians and churches have reduced Christianity to a mere Sunday morning worship service? They have taken His commands to be salt and light as commands to withdraw when in reality our withdrawal is nothing more than disobedience. We are failing to show up for the game. Yes, our church buildings may be nice and clothes may stay neat and clean, but what does that really accomplish?

It would be absolutely dumb for UT to not travel to Athens this weekend. We would all agree on that. So why do we think it is okay for the church to stay at home inside their buildings and not show up to play the game each and every day? We will only be as effective as we are willing to put into practice the words of Jesus Christ. Show up for "your game" today. Be the salt and light God has called you to be, and don't reduce your walk with God to a 1 hour time slot on Sunday mornings!