Dependability

Brett Favre, quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, wasn’t able to play for his team this past Monday night due to a shoulder injury. Normally, that would not be very newsworthy because players on every NFL team routinely miss games because they are hurt too badly to compete. Professional football is a notoriously rough sport in which players are injured every weekend. It is difficult for anyone to go through an entire season without missing some playing time. It is just the nature of the sport.

The fact that Brett Favre is missing a game is making the headlines because this is the first time it has happened in 19 seasons. He started a game on September 27, 1992 and, for the next 297 regular season games (321 including playoff games), he has shown up, put on his pads, laced up his cleats and did his job. Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports summed it up well: “Favre has played through countless broken bones, torn muscles, concussions, battered ankles, banged-up knees and every other calamity that would fell most mortals. For years on end, the best (or easiest) job in football was Brett Favre’s backup. You collected an NFL check, you got your own uniform and you never got hit while you held the clipboard.” Favre has other well-documented shortcomings, but you can’t doubt his heart and commitment to his team.

I’m thankful for every Christian who shows this same kind of heart and commitment to the body of Christ. You know the kind of disciple I am talking about. The disciple who refuses to run at the first sign of struggle. The disciple who perseveres through times of difficulty. The disciple who hangs in there through thick and thin. The disciple who continues “playing” even when hurt. The disciple who can be depended on by the rest of the team.

Could your church family use this kind of a disciple? Why not begin your own consecutive game streak today? Make the choice now to be there for your spiritual brothers and sisters! Do it for YOUR team!

God loves you!
Mike