I’ve always liked sports.

Growing up in Bogue Chitto, MS, there’s not much to do, other than play sports.  So, as a kid, I played a lot of football. A lot of baseball. A LOT of basketball.

Some of the moments I remember the most as a kids were going up to Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church and playing basketball. See, this church had an outdoor full court WITH lights. Which meant we could play at night. And boy did we ever. particularly during the summer. We’d be there all night.

And I loved to play.

And I wanted to win.  I’ve always felt if you are keeping score, you are playing to win. That’s just the way that it is.  If there is a score board, I want my team to have more points than your team.

Nothing personal, that’s just the way that I’m wired.

And I just to get mean and hateful when I lost.  I would act in ways that I shouldn’t have acted.  I was a bad loser.

Then, on of my friends pulled me aside and read to me this passage from Colossians:

17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

And that stuck with me. Even through it was just kids playing basketball, how did I represent Christ?

Even though it was just a game, how was I representing my Savior? Was I bringing Him honor, or shame?

How were my words, my actions, and even my thoughts, how were they honoring Him?

And it changed the way I handled myself.  Now, I didn’t like to lose (still don’t) but I know that there is something bigger than a game.

Or work

Or hobbies

Or anything.

It’s Jesus. And each day we represent Him.

How will you represent Him today?