Picture This

I have a great team to work with in Youth Ministry right now. We have been together for a couple of years, and they are tremendous workers and allies for the ministry.

In addition to operational business, I include training during each meeting.

This year we are reading John Maxwell's 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, and in this month's meeting one of the chapters we read was “The Law of the Picture”. The basic premise of this chapter is that “people do what people see”.

One of my team members was particularly struck by this chapter (and I do have his permission to tell this) recounting a time he was coaching a little league baseball team. He told us how he was intentional about doing devotionals with his players before games, especially on Sundays. He prayed, shared his Sunday School lesson, and once one of the umpires even joined them and prayed for them.

The problem came after the game when my friend/team member's wife told him that he negated everything he had done with the boys by his behavior during the game – even “debating” balls and strikes with that same umpire.

Trust me, I am guilty of this too. Once I fussed with a basketball referee from across the court about whether my player had traveled or not! But that is a story for another time.

UPDATE 11/16/24: Years later, as a current Virginia High School League Football and Basketball Official, I cringe at the memory of me yelling at that basketball official!

As Christians, we must be careful about how we carry ourselves in this world. We are not perfect of course and we should own that, but as Christ-followers we are doubly accountable for the way we behave.

We are called to be witnesses for Christ.

Acts chapter 22 verse 15 says, “for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.”

This passage is retelling Saul's (Paul's) conversion experience on the Damascus Road. This particular verse describes what Ananias told Paul. The impact? You will be a witness (a person who sees an event take place) of what God has said and done in your life.

Think about it. If we read in Scripture “forgive other people” but then don't do it, what we are saying? If we read in Scripture “love your wife” and then you don't, what are you saying?

Many people have said that Christian faith is caught more than taught.

Maybe it is time for me to stop simply teaching faith and get out of the office and start living it. Maybe that is where you are too. What a picture we might be!

Anyway, I was just thinking...