A Coach After God's Own Heart

Last Monday night, October 30, thousands of Ohio State football fans packed an arena on the Ohio State campus. They came from all over the state of Ohio, some driving up to 90 minutes to attend what was being called “The Main Event”. They did not come to cheer on their #1 ranked team or to heap accolades on Coach Jim Tressel and his star players. Instead, they came to hear the coach and several players give God the glory for their successes.

"Once you understand that God is behind everything, it gives you strength," wide receiver Roy Hall told the crowd. Coach Tressel said he wanted to step away from his role of coach and speak "as a child of God." He told the crowd that in 1969 he attended a high school sports summer camp where retired New York Yankees second baseman Bobby Richardson asked him, "If the game of life ended tonight, would you be a winner?"

Senior Joe Penton echoed those comments. "We would feel so bad talking about our relationship with Christ tonight, without giving you an opportunity to enter into that very same relationship, Penton says, "When Jesus Christ, God in human flesh, died on that cross, he took on the penalty for our sin. Because he paid it, we can have a relationship with Him. We can know Him personally. We can have the promise of eternal life -- living forever with God."

How exciting to see Coach Tressel and his team using their notoriety to honor Christ and to influence people to believe in Him. Think what might happen if every Christian would use his or her influence to bring attention to Christ and the gospel of grace.

1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds us, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” My friend, you were made to do one primary thing – to bring glory to God. That is your greatest purpose and highest calling. If even the most mundane things like eating and drinking, can be used to glorify God, think how more effective it would be to use your gifts, talents, strengths and resources to honor Christ. Today, may God be blessed and glorified in all we say and do.

Shoulder to shoulder,

Gregg