Are You Just A Fan ?

“astounded, and they were filled with awe and said.
‘We have seen incredible things today.’” (Luke 5:26)

Here in my home state of Alabama football is the ruling sport, college football to be exact. Just about any baby shower you attend will have at least one that is either crimson and white or orange and blue that either represents the bias of the expecting parents or of the gift giver. A few years later that same child is begins to decide their own allegiance by learning to call out “ROOOOLLLL TIDE” or “WAAR EEAAGLE”. Parents will dress their little girls in cheerleader outfits with hounds tooth and an elephant head or their little boys in football jersey and helmet with the big AU on the side.

Are these people fans or followers?

A fan wears their team colors but a follower will paint his body from head to toe to show his team spirit

A fan can recognize the mascot of their team but a follower knows the story that brought the mascot into being.

A fan might know who the head coach and a few of the star players are but a follower knows the last 5 teams the coach coached at, his record and the 3rd string
quarterbacks uncle’s sister-in-law.

A fan knows if their team is winning this year but a follower has ALL the stats of their team for all of history memorized.

A fan is upset but can still have a nice dinner with friend after a loss but a follower is devastated for days after a loss.

I could go on and on but I want to take a little turn here to ask you, Are you a fan of Christ or a follower of Christ? The difference between the two is as wide as the difference between a fan and a follower of any sports team.

A fan of Christ shows who they “cheer” for only on Sunday and maybe Wednesday but a follower shows Jesus from head to toe everyday.

A fan knows who Jesus is but a follower has a personal relationship with Him.

A fan knows a few bible stories but a follower knows the author of the stories and knows that they are more than just stories.

A fan knows the miracles written in the bible but a follower knows and sees that miracles are still daily occurrence.

A fan politely stands and claps when a soul is saved but a follower is “astounded, and they were filled with awe and said. ‘We have seen incredible things today.’” (Luke 5:26)

So are you just a fan or are you a follower?

What differences do you see between a fan and a follower?

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Put it ALL on.

"Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be

able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Eph 6:11

This morning I got to the office, sat down and flipped my calender to begin the new day. On June 2, 2010 Ephesians 6:11-12 was waiting in me. I have read this passage about putting on the armour of God many time. I had even attended a weekend retreat in which the speaker broke down each piece yet today God taught me something new.

My son played football from the time he was 5 years old until he graduated high school. Between days of practices and weekends filled with games, I have see many hours of football but one particular game stood out in my mind as I read and re-read this verse. One Friday night our varsity team came running on to the field and lined up to do their "warm-up" exercises. They stretched, ran, and pass. They did all the things football players do before a game. Then when it was time come together and run through the cheerleader's sign, one of the referees walk one of our starting players up to the coach and pointed him toward the locker room. After a short discussion the player trotted off the field with the trainer. The game started and several plays passed before the player reappeared to the sideline. When the coach saw him he motioned for the young man to go into the game. The game went on but I (being the nosey woman I am) could not help but wander what the player had been sent to the locker room for. He had his helmet, the right jersey, a chin strap, mouthpiece and all the vital pads that I could think of . Had he said something wrong ? Did he make a obscene hand motion? What was it ?

After the game was over I found out from the boys mother that he had left a pad out of his pants. The pad is about 2 inches wide and 10 inches long and fits just in the back of the pants. Most players (and some coaches) consider it useless and unimportant. But on this night the ref, the man in charge of the game, told our coach that the player had to have on the WHOLE assigned uniform or they could not play. He was not willing to risk them getting hurt on "his watch".

Do you think that is why God tells us in His word to put on the WHOLE armour? Do you think it is because He knows best and is not willing to let us get hurt on His watch ? That small pad is a part of a football prayers uniform for a purpose. Frankly it is made to protect the player tailbone. It doesn't seem important until you get hit there without that protection. Parts of the armour of God may not seem especially important until Satan sees that you are unprotected and "hits" you there.

Are you putting on the WHOLE armour of God everyday ?

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WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS

In the event that you have been living in a cave for the last five days or if you just do not listen to any type of sports cast, I have an announcement to share with you:
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA FOOTBALL TEAM IS THE BCS CHAMPIONS.



You may think the picture above was taken at the game, but it was not. So maybe you think it might have been taken of the crowd at a pep rally before the game, but it was not. No this large group of fans had lined the fence standing in the freezing cold at the airport just hoping for a opportunity to see the newly crowned champs exit they chartered plane walk a few feet and board the bus. As the players walked past waving, the crowd cheered. They yelled. They all hoped that they might be able to get a picture of Mark Ingram, the Heisman trophy winner or Coach Saban. I, myself, am a big football fan but watching this scene played out over and over on the various newscasts made me question the value we place on material things.

▪ A championship sports team flys in … we stand for hours in below freezing temperatures.
A town square march against abortion … we say it is to cold to come out in support.
▪ The BCS coach’s trophy is on display … 6000 people stand in line just to have picture made.
We are asked to serve meal at the local mission … our old knee injury hurts to bad to stand.
▪ Sports Illustrated BCS special edition comes out … we almost rub the ink off the pages by flipping through the pages ever minute we can.
Our Bibles … sit on our tables or in our cars untouched day after day.


Where is my focus? Where is yours? Are you more excited by a sports team victory than you are about what God is doing in lives around you and in your own life?

· I have used the Alabama football championship only as an example.

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