That crash you heard Sunday was the NFL season coming to an end in spectacular fashion. Several vulnerabilities in the game were exposed (bizarre calls or non-calls that replay was supposed to bring to an end and an antiquated sudden death system) as we now have two teams that I'm guessing most devotion readers could care less about - New England and LA. At the risk of alienating friends long loyal to Dallas and other teams, New England may just be the single best team to ever take the field (and it is one team that I don't root for). Make any argument you want, but the fact is they are always in the mix and have been for almost 20 years. None the less, Kansas City is out.
That said, we said adios on Sunday to Lubbock's favorite son, Patrick Mahomes, who did make football exciting this year. How? Mahomes made his presence known this year, even when he went up against Goliath known as New England. He certainly made the sea of red at Tech games a sea mostly of Mahomes' jerseys from Kansas City. Mahomes plays with intentionality and focus. He sits between offensive drives with his head coach, Reid, and listens. He doesn't argue with what was when penalties are called, only regroups and goes back out again to make the most of the next down. Mahomes makes things happen that can only be described as miraculous when he does them.
Paul talks to us as Christians about this focus in 1 Corinthians 9: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."
What would men of excellence look like as followers of Christ if this was our guiding principal? First, we would be focused on what lies ahead which is the prize, that of Christ and the salvation He alone provides. Second, we would be in strict training, daily prayer and devotion as well as sharing that prize with those who don't know it. Third, we would encourage one another in the faith as we all stumble during our daily walk with Christ.
We pray for this same focus we see on the gridiron from our best, like Mahomes, in our own lives in our own way. We pray for the discipline necessary to fulfill Christ's mission for us as His faithful to spread the gospel.
Hope Men's Ministry
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