Pre-Game Talk

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and without Him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in Him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him; yet the world did not know Him. He came to what was His own, and His own people did not accept Him. But to all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. – John 1:1-5, 9-14, 16

When I read the Bible looking for inspiration, I tend toward the Epistles. They feel more practical, more user-friendly. They were written by the Apostles, the early leaders of the Church, to churches that they had developed. They instruct the new churches on what to do, what not to do and how to do it. They are nuggets and pearls of wisdom. As a coach, they remind me of the adjustments that are made during a time out.

During a time-out, the coaches talk with (or yell at) the players, letting them know what went right and what went wrong. Adjustments and changes are made. It is decided what will not be tried anymore, and what surprises will be thrown at the opponent. Sometimes the head coach just speaks. He or she rallies the team, motivates and fires them up.

Another time that a coach gets to inspire their team is before the game starts. Those of you who have played sports know the value of a great pre-game speech. Some pre-game speeches are legendary. Knute Rockne’s “Win one for the Gipper” is a classic. The pre-game speech is a staple of every sports movie ever made. It is also used outside the sports arena. The speech at the beginning of the movie “Patton” is a great pre-game speech.

A pre-game speech tells a story. It reminds where the team has been, what they’ve gone through. It sums up the challenge that is before the team. It praises and humbles the team. It tells the team what can be, what may be and what will be. It is emotional and inspiring. It is personal and broad based. It is general and specific. It makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. It lights a fire in your stomach and chills you to the bone. It makes you want to go out and conquer the world. It tells you that not only can you, but you must. It is not a possibility; it is a statement of a matter of fact.

If the Epistles are time-out talks, then the verse quoted above is the greatest pre-game speech ever. It harkens back to the past (Genesis 1:1), and lays out what has already been accomplished. We are reminded of the successes that have already happened (“the darkness did not overcome it.”) It challenges us; it shames us (“His own people did not accept Him.”) It tells us what can and will be (“to all who received Him … He gave power to become children of God.”)

The only thing that is missing is that last phrase, the one that has you running through the door instead of out of it. That is found 2 chapters later. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

I'm heading off on a new adventure and needed a “pre-game” talk to light my fire. I hope it helps you. When you need to take a time-out, look to our coach to find that adjustment, change or motivation that will help you. “But for God, all things are possible.”