Taking the Trophy

There will be a contest on the field in Miami this coming Sunday, and there are those who will be competing who are believers in Christ.  In 1st Corinthians 9, Paul uses the language of sports to
describe a different sort of competition:
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

Later, in verse 27, Paul writes, "I discipline my body and bring it into subjection."  I think the implication here is that we can become our own worst enemies - we have to take caution so that we do not give into the schemes of the enemy and the whims of the flesh and the world.  We are in a daily competition to bring our own sinful desires and actions under submission and to release the holiness of God working powerfully to cleanse us and to mature us in Christ.

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In 2nd Timothy chapter 4, the apostle Paul uses two sports analogies to illustrate the Christian's
journey through this life. We can read these verses:
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

There seem to always be faith-related stories around the Super Bowl, and this year is no exception.  You may remember that one of this year's teams, the Kansas City Chiefs, played in the very first game, against Bart Starr and the Green Bay Packers, back in 1967.  The Chiefs represented the upstart American Football League, which was founded by a gentleman named Lamar Hunt.  Hunt, according to CBS Sports, reached out to the commissioner of the rival National Football League about having a game between the two leagues' champions.  He had, in passing, suggested it be called the "Super Bowl."

The rest, as they say, is history.  The Chiefs, after losing to the Packers, have only been back to the big game once since then, when they won Super Bowl IV.   Meanwhile, their opponents Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers, have five Super Bowl championships, but have not won since 1995.

Less than two weeks ago, according to ChristianHeadlines.com:

The chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs thanked the coaches, players and fans while accepting the AFC Championship trophy Sunday but also took a moment to credit God.

“I want to thank the Lord for blessing us with the opportunity,” Clark Hunt said on national television. “The glory belongs to Him.”

Clark is the son of Lamar Hunt, and the trophy he received bears his father's name.  The article relates that Clark has been "outspoken" about his faith, and states:

“We want our employees to develop spiritually,” Hunt said last year while speaking to a men’s luncheon in Tyler, Texas. He became a Christian at age 10, he told the men. “In the National Football League, Christ is really glorified. My identity is my faith in Christ.”

That is according to TylerPaper.com. The article also goes on to quote from the FCA website.

Hunt and his wife, Tavia, partnered with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in 2014 to launch a non-denominational chapel service for fans attending the Chiefs’ Sunday games. Services are held at the Pavilion, a structure next to the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium. About 350 fans attended the first service – most of them wearing Chiefs’ apparel. Eight people accepted Christ during the first service, according to FCA.

Over on the other side, there is a faith presence, as well.  Consider Jordan Matthews, a wide receiver for the 49ers.  A Baptist Press article relates:

"We've got to realize as Christians that we're going to be the Bible that people read," Matthews said during Super Bowl Opening Night Jan. 27 at Marlins Park. "We've got to be able to share our faith with people whenever the opportunity comes."

Matthews is widely regarded as one of the team's spiritual pillars. He's the leader of the team Bible study and is one of the go-to guys for spiritual counsel.

49ers backup quarterback C.J. Beathard has been on the receiving end of Matthews' witness.  The article states:

Matthews' ministry was especially meaningful in late December when Beathard's brother Clayton was stabbed to death. Matthews regularly texted Scriptures and encouragement to Beathard and was faithful in praying for him.

"He was really there to help me out with the whole thing," Beathard said.

Matthews, who is from Alabama and attended Vanderbilt, came to the 49ers from Philadelphia, where God used some of his teammates to strengthen his faith.  Baptist Press says:

His second year in the NFL, however, brought about a major change in Matthews' commitment to Christ. Two of his teammates -- Chris Maragos and Trey Burton -- provided the catalyst that God used to deepen Matthews' faith. While Matthews saw several teammates who weren't steady, and while he considers himself one of those, he saw something different in Maragos and Burton.

When all is said and done in Miami on Sunday night, somebody will take the trophy; you will have Christian believers who will be part of the team that receives it.  And, they are playing for a greater reward ultimately.  The Bible promises us that we will receive crowns, and in 2nd Timothy Paul refers to the "crown of righteousness."  We can live our lives with the ambition to hear our Father say, "Well done."  That is the greatest trophy of all.

Because, for some, football is a game.  But, faith is a practice.  And, while our earthly endeavors can be a platform through which we can share our faith in Christ, we recognize that our priorities are to be centered on pleasing our Savior.

The two individuals I've spotlighted today - Clark Hunt and Jordan Matthews have chosen to make Jesus the center of their lives.  But, as I have shared, they haven't kept it to themselves - they are releasing the love and power of God so they might strengthen others.  We can maintain our sense of mission.