Football, like most sports, is full of irony. Often the smallest guy on the field is the last defense against a huge running back headed for the end zone. And even its modest beginnings as a sport are full of irony. In the late 1890’s, Clinton Beckett, a teacher and principal of the small Pine Village School, in Pine Village, Indiana, introduced the sport of football to the townspeople. Two teams formed, one from the high school students and one from former students. This tradition continued for almost 20 years. Other surrounding towns began forming teams and independent leagues. This was fertile ground for the establishment of coaches, sports facilities, rule books, ticket sales and concessions. How ironic that a small rural community ushered in this new sport that ultimately became the National Football League.
When we read the Bible, we also see how God often uses irony to accomplish His purposes:
- David, a young shepherd boy brings down the fierce giant Goliath with
a sling and a stone. - Hundred-year-old Abraham and his aged wife Sarah give birth to Isaac,
the father of a great nation. - Joseph, sold as a slave by his own brothers, becomes the second most powerful man in Egypt, and fulfills prophecy by bringing Israel to Egypt for 400 years.
- God save Israel from the Midianite army through Gideon and a force of just 300 men who use pots and torches as “weapons.”
- The King of Kings was born in a stable in a tiny village. He learned the trade of a carpenter and launched a worldwide movement with 12 ordinary men.
- “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it.” (Matthew 10:39 NLT)
God delights in using ordinary people to accomplish God-sized tasks. He turns misfortune on its head and brings good from it. “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)
The primary lesson behind this for us is to recognize our own frailty and neediness before the Lord, to humble ourselves and depend fully on Him to do His work in and through us. “As it is written: ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’” (1 Corinthians 1:31)
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Personal Application: Humbly submit yourself to the Lord and watch what He does in and through you. If you tend to be proud of your accomplishments, confess that and continually thank God for His grace.
Jim Grassi, D. Min.
We cherish any verse in Scripture that reminds us to keep focused and intentional about evangelism and discipleship. “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5