“So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.” Exodus 33:17
“Go Team Go!” will be the cry tomorrow morning in Downtown Venice, Florida. With a population of approximately 28,000 people, only a very small percentage of that number even know that their town is being represented. Even fewer can name one person on ‘their’ team! The Venice High School Football team… OUR TEAM… is going to Tallahassee for a shot at becoming State Champions!
My family is involved because that is what 2nd generation families do. My son was on Venice’s first team when ‘The Venice Indians’ took the State Title back in 2000. My daughter was a cheerleader. Today, my granddaughter has followed her mom’s footsteps and will be cheering on the sidelines in tomorrow night’s big game. It will be a struggle of hopes, dreams, work, sweat and determination.
‘My’ Team is going to the State Championship… but I will not even leave the house! “Good Luck boys! Go get ‘em! Rah Rah!” And while I sincerely mean that, “I” will have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to DO with their win or loss. They are MY team… but I am not ON The Team! They represent me. But my being a winner, or loser in real life, has NOTHING to do with them. Such is the nature of a ‘Fan!’
It’s Christmastime. And pretty much EVERYBODY is excited! Every town has its ‘Christmas light committee,’ and by now, the quality of their decisions and plans are on display for all to see, with spectators crying out, “OOOOO… AHHHH! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!” Or is that “Happy Holidays?” I guess that depends whether or not they’re actually ON… The Team! I know for a fact… ‘I Am!’
I KNOW ‘I Am’ in person… ‘I Am’ being one of the titles of Jesus Christ. He invited me to join His team a LONG time ago. I have been a faithful supporting member for about 55 years! And while there were some years it appeared that I wasn’t really ‘winning,’ it is truthful to say that He and I have NEVER LOST! That is the nature of being an Active Participant on Team Jesus! Even losses are wins.
Moses made a Pact with God when he was facing a nasty desert with his back toward a bunch of dead Egyptians. God was pointing to take His team into a very difficult game. Before leaving, Moses asked ‘The Coach’ to ‘PLEASE go with us because we can’t win without you’ speech. Today’s verse is God’s answer to that prayer. We know how that story went. Now… today, I find myself a lil nervous!
It’s a war out there! Jesus’ people have been whittled down, with lots of jersey wearers NOT really ON ‘The Team.’ But I am called to ‘TEAM UP and GO’ regardless of press or pressure, odds or size of the foe. The only thing I KNOW for CERTAIN, is that ‘The Coach’ is WITH ME. I call Him… ‘Emmanuel!’ Do YOU wear His colors? Are YOU on His team, on the sidelines? Or are you just part of the crowd in opposition? “Go God!”
