“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
This verse, among many others, lays the foundation for our expectation: A belief in a future ordained by God, filled with prosperity, hope, and blessing.
“I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, 8 for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me. 9 “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. 10 All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. (John 17:6-10)
To reach the world, God uses people who He has given to His Son, Jesus Christ. Those that know Him and obey Him.
Ours is a family of coaches. Early in my wife’s tennis career, her father was her coach. Likewise, I played sports under my father’s guidance, as he coached my little league football and basketball teams. My wife’s brother in-law, and our nephew are also football coaches, who still blow their whistles today. These men, past and present, stand as a unique group of influential people who lead athletes as they compete in sports, and in life.
To many of their athletic disciples, they’re simply know as “Coach.” Many of us have been greatly influenced by the coaches in our lives. And those who have, would surely agree, that athletics in our lives are always best when they have a purpose.
I don’t remember who taught me how to read, or how to write. All in all, I don’t remember much about the teachers who shaped me throughout my life… However, on the other hand, I distinctly remember every coach I ever had. I can detail what they looked like, how they spoke and the lessons they taught. I often reminisce about my past coaches; about the things I learned from them and how they made me feel, when I was under their wing.
This says a lot to me about how important coaches are in one’s life. And how significant the retained substance and memories of their teachings are, as they helped shape a person into who they are today.
Most of the good coaches in my past all had a commonality in their teachings. They all compelled me too, “Attempt great things and to always expect great things.” The saying: “Attempt and expecting great things from God” has become a motto in many Christian’s lives. I wonder how many athletes learned this concept from one of their coaches, long before they heard about it later in life.
“Attempt great things” is a call to action. And any action needs to have a purpose. If your purpose is to glorify God, by putting God first, then the rest just seems to fall in place. On the other hand, if your purpose is simply to win (even if you manage to win once in a while) if you leave God out, you will lose.
Coaches who invest in the player’s lives, care more about the Kingdom, than about winning games. Life is more important than just playing football or tennis or the score after the game. Life is about our relationship with God, and our eternal destination.
A purposeful faith based coach leads a willing athlete with Godly wisdom, and develops their good character, all the while as he instructs them to use their physical talents while competing in a sport. The athlete is often unaware of a coaches character lessons, as their focus on the physical aspects of the game often clouds their realization of the lessons being taught, and their potential significance. However, any worthy lesson taught is always somehow unconsciously learned, and will likely rise to the top, sooner than later.
A Godly coach may be subtle as a sunset or as relentless as a sledgehammer. But either way, he’s gonna leave his mark.
Good coaches always know how to rally a team and help them to believe in themselves. And they will also challenge you to be faithful, just as they are faithful.
Godly coaches know what it truly means to be victorious. Anybody can celebrate when their on the mountaintop, but what’s truly important is, that you must have the ability to rally together and believe in yourself and the team, even when victory isn’t in sight.
“Winning is a habit. Watch your thoughts, they become your beliefs. Watch your beliefs they become your words. Watch your words, they become your actions. Watch your actions they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character.” –Vince Lombardi –
Victories and glories accomplished on the field often come with risks. A Godly coach needs to have his head on a swivel, because the enemy prowls this earth looking to devour its prey and will come at you from every direction.
I like Tim Tebow’s thoughts on coaching. He wrote this in one of his books: “A coach must always be alert to his team taking the good things that happen for them; The trophies and accolades, and the honors and glories, and saying, “Look at me” because if they do… then they had played the game for the wrong crown.That crown is gonna tarnish, along with those trophies… they may even get lost. One thing is for certain—they’re not going to have any lasting effect. The only thing that’s lasting is when we do what we’re created to do, and that’s to serve and glorify God. That’s the crown God planned for us to achieve—The crown won by those who glorify God.”
I’m drawn to the story of Joseph in The Bible when I’m thinking about the importance of coaches, and athletics in life. Not because he had eleven brothers, enough to cover either side of the ball. But rather, when the subject of dreams came up, Joseph focused everyone’s attention on God. Rather than using the situation to make himself look good, he turned it into a powerful witness for the Lord. One secret of effective witnessing is to recognize opportunities that relate God to other people’s experiences. When the opportunities arise, we must have courage to speak and act, as Joseph did.
Sports and athletics present situations like Joseph’s: An opportunity is at hand to focus on God. Whether in a stadium or on a practice field, there is an opportunity to glorify God and be a powerfull witness for the Lord.
As an athlete or a coach, you’re left with a choice. Are you going to speak up or act out, and use the opportunity to glorify God. Or are you simply focused on the goal line and protecting the ball? Will you choose to have a greater purpose in that moment than playing a game?
One moment, Joseph looked around and found himself in the bottom of a well. Then, a short time later, he looked and found himself locked in a prison. Undoubtably cold, hungry and confused, never once did this young man feel alone. Joseph knew God was always by his side. He’d been coached for this. For Joseph, life was a team sport. Eleven brothers, and God, coaching him through his dreams. How could it be anything else?
If Joseph was a coach like Vince Lombardi, and his eleven brothers were like the Green Bay Packers offense, what would he say to them? How would he express his thoughts and beliefs, his words and actions, his habits and character?
Joseph said to his brothers: but don’t be angry with yourself for selling me to this place, it was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your life. God has sent me ahead of you and your family alive, to preserve many lives so it was God who sent me here not you. (Genesis 45:5,7)
Joseph coached Egypt during seven years of famine, and along the way he coached his brothers on forgiveness…The same forgiveness that God graced us with when He sacrificed His Son for our sins. Joseph is still coaching today, through his lessons in The Bible.
Let’s always honor the importance and significance that a coach has in the development of good character in our lives. Godly coaches may share lessons with eternal signifigance, but ultimately the choice is yours, of which lessons you will learn.
God chose you for His team right from the beginning—Read The Bible and get in the game.
“I tell you the Truth”