I’m not really into board games or game shows... probably because, as a kid, my older brother would destroy me at games (especially Monopoly). But Lori and her family love games. When my relatives come into town, the television is permanently set to the Game Show Network. And they are really great at board games!
Some people are really great at another type of game, too. The game of religion. It’s easy to let God into your life, and then become really good at playing the religion game. You know how to shift gears when you’re talking to someone and find out they are a Christian. You can drop the right Christian phrases and appear the part. You act one way at church and a completely different way at work or on the basketball court or standing in the kitchen. You believe the stuff about Jesus, but you just don’t see it playing out in your real life. Rather than admit this and begin to deal with it you just get better at appearances.
Maybe life for you looks more like the game Angry Birds than anything resembling Christianity. You’ve become distracted by a growing resentment toward people or organizations that have hurt you, so you hurl words and accusations at others like angry birds launched from a slingshot. Or maybe your relationship with God feels like a never ending game of Words With Friends... a big confusing jumble of letters that you can’t make little sense.
I want you to know that Jesus offers you something radical and profound—a life of meaning and purpose! But to get there, you have to take a risk and be honest about where you are spiritually. Know when you are playing games—when you’ve become too comfortable and predictable and mediocre. Sometimes being honest can feel like a huge risk, but without the risk you miss the reward. In fact, playing it safe with Jesus is the riskiest thing of all.
I want to challenge you today to dig deep: Is there a risk in your life that you feel God is leading you to take? Will you step out in faith and re-transfer ownership of your life, money, relationships, career, and health?
