Playing on God’s team is much like participating on any other team. We work hard, follow directions, and bask in the glow of victory as we watch our hard work pay off.
However, Former professional football player T.C. Stallings says that we often fail to understand that God wants us to be an active part of his team and not just sit on the sidelines.
For T.C., there was a time in his life where he wasn’t participating on God’s team, even though he claimed to be a part of it. While watching Sports Center, his perspective changed forever.
“I’m watching how they highlight how hard the athletes work. I realized that I wasn’t doing that as a follower of Christ. I realized I wasn’t doing my part.”
T.C. says it was key for him to understand that He had a part to play on God’s team, just like he had a part to play on his football team.
“I looked at my football coach, he loved me too, he really wanted me on his team. He graciously gave me a scholarship so that I can be on that team, but what would have happened if he had brought me all the way to the University of Louisville and I just went in my dorm room and did nothing. He didn’t give me that scholarship to just sit.”
He knew that his coach put him on the football team so that he would get on the field and make plays; not sit on the sidelines.
The same principle can be applied from a Biblical perspective as well. We’ve all been given a free-ride scholarship on God’s team, but we’re still expected to show up ready to play. We didn’t earn our way onto the team with good works, but now that we’re on the team, it’s time to get off the bench and into the game.
“God didn’t save our life so we can just sit. Coach Jesus wants to show us the plays he wants to call in our lives. Here’s the game plan, here’s what I want you to do, and were shocked by that like, whoa, there’s actually work to do? Absolutely. Grace is what saves you and puts you on God’s team. What we do, the way we play is the way we say thank you for that grace.”
T.C. Stallings is a former professional athlete now finding success in film and television. T.C.’s career reached new heights with his break-out performance as “Tony Jordan” in the 2015 hit film, War Room, which soared to #1 in the box office in its second week. T.C. is married to his college sweetheart, Levette Stallings and have two children and live in Southern California.
Key Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:25-27
Featured Songs: Impossible – Building 429; Overcomer – Mandisa; Move – Toby Mac
Playing on God's team
