Put Me In, Coach!

On a Saturday or Sunday afternoon in September, it's fitting to enjoy some football. Fans of the game are familiar with a phrase many coaches share with a sideline reporter right before trotting off the field at half time: "We'll be just fine if everyone does their job." It's both an admonishment to the whole team and the individual players.

If a team is struggling, and is behind at the intermission, the coach is likely saying these things in frustration. The emphasis is placed on "everyone" and "doing their jobs." The call is for underperforming players to step up and play better -- more to their potential. The coach has faith in their ability and is trying to call it out.

If a team is ahead at halftime, but still has had several mistakes, the coach's message is likely still similar. "Do your job! We can take control of the game and leave no doubt we'll win!"

A team functions at its best when each player knows and understands his role on the team ... and does his job! If an offensive lineman is able to focus on blocking for the quarterback, or running back, and not also on running downfield to catch a pass, his team's offense is going to be more successful.

The same goes for the wide receiver. He may be required to block a defensive back on certain plays, and he may be called to get downfield on others. He's got a job to do!

Over the last month or so, I've realized its difficult to try and do it all sometimes. Our culture demands if you're not exceptional at something, you'd better be good at a number of things. And when you're doing the work of disciple-making, you can feel like you've gotta make sure you complete the cultivation of relationships, planting the seeds of God's word, and reaping the harvest of the Holy Spirit's work.

That is dangerous and faulty thinking. We can easily believe we had more to do with change that occurs in someones life than we really did. We made the investment, WE reaped the harvest! Amazing how quickly it becomes about our efforts, right?

But the Apostle Paul makes it pretty clear God is the one who causes growth (1 Cor. 3:6-7). (We didn't!) And sometimes people play specific roles for specific times. It takes a team, Paul says! Some will plant, some will water, and some will reap -- but we're all called to be workers in the harvest field.

In fact, Jesus asks his own disciples to pray for more workers in Matthew 9:38!

Seems like an odd request, doesn't it? Why is he asking them to pray for more workers? He had a bunch lined up and sorta weeded them out! And, if he need more, why was he asking them? Jesus was the one they wanted to follow, let him do the asking -- again!

What I think Jesus was really after was for his disciples to realize they needed to be part of a team -- even after he went back to his Father. Yes, he recognized and knew there was a lot of work to be done, but none of it was going to be accomplished apart from His Spirit. So, what becomes essential for his followers then is to get on board and do their job -- as many of them as possible!

We submit to the Holy Spirit and ask him to get us "in the game". He, in turn, shows us our role in the body of believers. He wants to make it simple: listen and do your job! The whole team benefits when we do.