The Jesus Effect

"I made him into a great player but not a great man."

This was quoted by an apologetic former coach Bill Parcels on one of his star football players from the late 80's, Laurence Taylor, who was arrested last week for raping a 16 year old girl and who has also been involved with drugs since retiring from football. Taylor was a 10 time pro bowler, a hall of famer, and helped the Giants win two Super Bowls. But all of the accomplishments in the world cannot over shadow what he has become in recent years.

I was glad when I heard another former player of Parcels say the coach had made a vow to never again let the standards of excellence on the field be more important than teaching the players "how to be great men" off the field.

Unfortunately in the last decade or two the responsibility of coaches from the collegiate level to the pro's has taken on a whole different meaning. Many of the players you see today lacked a fatherly figure in their upbringing so a coaches role has gone from not just teaching them X's and O's but teaching them life skills, responsibility, and submission.

So how does this relate to Christians? God has given us the responsibility to not only walk in love, but to exemplify Jesus in all that we do.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Mth.5:16)

Having the Jesus effect by living out your life the way God asks you to will have a greater impact on the world then if you were the one to discover plutonium.

Make the outside world curious of what you have when your carry around with you the peace and joy of God. That disgruntled cashier you may get while in line at the grocery store may need exactly what you have. The only way you can give it away is by letting that light shine within you.

Be a coach in the game of life!