For the Love of Football (#114 of 365+)

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22)


The NFL playoff season is now down to the last four teams, and next Sunday we’ll see who will be the AFC champion (New York Jets or Indianapolis Colts) and the NFC champion (Minnesota Vikings or New Orleans Saints).

Sure, I like football, but not as much as my husband does! I saw many similarities in Joni’s description of her husband Ken’s love of football with my husband’s. The tackles, plays, and strategies… the history of different franchises and their coaches’ résumés… players’ strengths and weaknesses… he eats it up. I’m frequently impressed with his knowledge of the game. That’s why I asked him to help me make my picks and forecasts this past weekend and for the next two. I have the privilege through my industry to take part in a Big Game Blitz and the chance to win money every week. Since it’s completely investment-free I want to make it clear that we are not gambling.

Like Joni described herself, I too am a “football snob”. If it isn’t my Dallas Cowboys, an important game like the Super Bowl, or there isn’t something in it for me that I can relate to, then I don’t care much about the game. So what does this have to do with the Christian life? Well, Joni compared the love of the game with a love for the worldwide Church. Some of us are “denominational snobs”. In today’s scripture verse Peter told Christians to love fellow believers “deeply, from the heart”. I am to have a heart-felt love for a fellow believer simply because of the fact he or she is my brother or sister in Christ. We don’t have to look for anything other than having our Savior in common. In Joni’s words, “The same Holy Spirit who lives in me also lives in certain Christians I’m not prone to cheer for or fellowship with. This year, widen your circle of Christian fellowship to include brothers and sisters in other denominations”.

Lord, I confess I don’t love my Christian brothers and sisters deeply or with a sincere affection from my heart. Help me to fellowship more and develop this type of love for those within my spiritual family. May I learn to cheer them on as I would cheer on my favorite football team during Super Bowl! Give me some of that passion starting today. Amen.