The other day I watched a program, from the fall series A Football Life, featuring Waco’s own LaDainian Tomlinson.
Tomlinson was a student at University High (Waco) before he went on to TCU. He played pro-football for 11 years – nine of those with the San Diego Chargers. He turned out to be an extraordinary player – a finalist for the Heisman in college and the NFL’s MVP in 2007.
This program was about his life – where he grew up, his parents, his high school games. At one point, there was a brief clip of Tomlinson playing against Midway High School at Midway.
I can remember sitting in the stands at Midway (1995/1996) watching him. At the time, I remember that he had an incredible game. What I didn’t realize is that that night would one day be televised throughout the nation as a part of a much larger story – a biography of one of the greatest running backs ever.
Years ago, when we sat in the stands at Midway High School, we had no idea that we were watching a future Hall of Fame athlete. Instead, we just knew that Midway was playing University High School and that they had a running back that was very fast. Other than that, it seemed like an ordinary Central Texas night in a football stadium.
While one doesn’t usually get the opportunity to get a front row seat to watch an exceptional athlete, we do have the opportunity to watch an extraordinary God at work.
1. Consider your everyday ministry. You never, ever know the good that you are doing by the grace of God in what might seem to be an ordinary congregation in an ordinary town.
2. Know that the story of what God is doing on this earth through the lives of his people is much larger than the way things seem to be at the moment. Who knows what God will make of your service during one hour, one day or one week of your life? Never take these moments for granted.
3. The extent to which God may use someone is not always obvious. Sometimes the people that we least suspect are used by God in mighty ways. With others we are not surprised that God used them, we are surprised at the way God used them. Sometimes it may be obvious but not always. Make the most of your opportunities to do good regardless of how old or how young you may be.
Question: What is it that may be happening right in front of you that is obviously a work of God?