Audience of One • Devotion 6

“God’s Team”
Joe Wilson

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” Ephesians 4:11 (KJV)

Wayne Gretzky (“The Great One”) was one of the greatest hockey players of all time. He said, “I think that from the time you start playing sports as a child you see that your responsibility to your team is to play the best that you can play as an individual...and yet, not take anything away from being part of a team.”
 
Just as a coach builds a sports team based on the differing abilities of players, I believe God is assembling His own team. He has given each of us abilities to which He will utilize according to His will in order to build His team as He sees fit.

Will you answer the call? Will you step up to do your part? Will you sacrifice your time and abilities to be part of God’s Team? God has sacrificed so much more for each of us, so much that we could never begin to imagine having the ability to repay it. Think on these passages:

• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (KJV)

• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (KJV)

• “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.” Ephesians 5:2 (KJV)

In Matthew 25:14-46, Jesus is teaching the parable of the talents and He mentions in verse 21, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” In verse 23, he again says, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” These words have been on my heart and in my prayers as of recent and oh how I desire to hear these words when my journey is over, in fact, the thought of not hearing them scares me. Remember the enemy will do everything he can to keep you from joining God’s Team. He will entice you with excuses such as, “I don’t have the time” or “I don’t have the skills.” Does this sound familiar?

Trust in God. Remember it is His team. James 4:7 (KJV) says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
 
God provides the ultimate example of being a servant in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Matthew 20:28 (KJV) says, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

So again I ask you, “Will you answer the call? Will you step up to do your part? Will you sacrifice your time and abilities to be part of God’s Team?”