Although it is very common today for a quarterback to change the play at
the line of scrimmage, when Joe Namath ran the New York Jet offense it wasn’t.
Except for Joe, who would call the play in the huddle, then after seeing the
defense, would change it at the line of scrimmage if needed. Unheard of at the
time, back when football players were considered not so bright, and linemen
Neanderthals, Joe had a smart and aggressive line that not only protected him,
but was willing and able to change as the situation changed. What was then a
novelty, today is SOP for any NFL offense, and has led to many a delay of game
penalty, as they try to get too creative, now that the offense changes plays, so
does the defense. The defense has plays? Notice a defensive huddle, and guys
running off and on the field between plays. They are trying to outwit the
offense, and becomes a game within a game. So much has changed, if only the
viewer even thought he knew what was going on....
Baseball for perpetuity has had the third base coach sending signals to the
batter, the catcher sending signals to the pitcher, and even defensive shifts
per the batter are common. Much study and prep time goes into each
game....which has progressed far away from just throwing, hitting, and
catching. Hockey still looks like to much skating and body checking to me, and
basketball has progressed, or degressed to street ball as we used to call it.
Years ago a friend coached a high school woman’s team, who was very good. It
was tough at first boxing out women, if only for certain anatomical reasons, but
once the game got going, they played rough and tough, so we would respond. We
were a practice team for them, made up of some friends, and although much older,
in our thirties, we kept them at bay, and even won once in a while. But
something happened while we scrimmaged against them, crowds drew, and soon the
stands were filling up to see us scrimmage the girl’s varsity. They cut us old
guys no slack, and one close knit game it came down to old age and experience.
The game tied with only seconds left, and we got the ball out of bounds
under our basket. As David stood out of bounds looking for someone to pass to,
I calmly walked up to him, said “here David, I’ll take it out,” he passed it to
me, untouched, I did any easy layup, and the girls stood there dumbfounded.
They thought I was going to change positions with David, but it was a play you
can only run once a game, and it worked. As they complained, the coach stood
and smiled, and stored it into his memory for a time in the future when he could
use it. As for the girls, they thought we had cheated, and were caught off
guard. Sometimes the easiest plays are the most effective.
Have you ever prayed and didn’t get an immediate answer? And wonder what
was going on? Did God hear you, did he understand your request, and why hadn’t
he sprung to action on it? Not an unusual situation, as we find in scripture
the apostles acting the same way. those who would do greater things than Jesus,
yet once he was crucified and resurrected, they were on their own. Or at least
would act like it. Peter had been imprisoned, and they missed him. Having
spent time fervently praying and asking God to have him released, they missed
their unofficial leader, and possibly could have been fearing for their own
lives. Remember them hiding out the night Jesus appeared, passing through a
wall, you would think that after all the miracles they had seen, they would have
more faith. But patience battles faith, and in my cases, like theirs usually
wins. So we find them talking amongst themselves, praying, asking, and
wondering where is God in the situation. When a knock comes on the door, and
they are too self absorbed to answer it. Funny a little girl recognized his
voice, shades of in the Garden, and here tells the others of his escape, and his
appearance at the door, yet they rebuff her. The very prayer God had been
called upon to answer, he did, yet they were looking for something else. The
play they had called was changed by God at the line of scrimmage, and it
worked. For all, and as an example to us of trusting God to do things his way
and is his own time. For our benefit.
It is funny how they reacted, they thought it to be his angel, but not
Peter. As if his angel would abandon him, to show up without him. But once
again the apostles, other than Peter were taken in by a little girl, who
recognized Peter’s voice, and ran to find out or to tell others. Just like our
basketball play had caught a team off guard, Peter’s appearance caught his
friends off guard. All were surprised, except the little girl who had seen him,
and God. Nothing takes him by surprise, and while they were praying his plan of
action was in action. Just like the prayers we offer up today, for our
situations, God already has them in progress. And may be knocking on your door
with the answer, and you are too busy to answer. Or don’t like his answer, or
wish for something easier, and you wonder “what was God thinking?” He was
thinking of you, and I.
That same God in the form of Jesus knocks at the door of your heart, and
wants to be let in. Are you too busy, or are you expecting someone else? Are
your plans different than God’s and is Jesus a part of them? Maybe you feel out
manned, and it is as simple as taking a ball in under the basket when it is
asked for, for in asking I received, and scored. Right in front of our
opponent, who was caught by surprise. Is it possible Jesus has the same answer,
and wants to show your enemy his love while blessing you? What signals are the
holy spirit sending you? Paul tells us we run the race to win, are you even in
the race, or has life taken you out of it? Or do you just not like the signals
God is sending?
When they finally opened the door, they were astonished, and even more
astonished when he told of how the chains had fallen off, and an angel had led
him to safety. Peter who was afraid of a teen age girl, but who could trust an
angel in the midst of those who were to take his life. But he didn’t hang
around, and left for another place, as Herod was after him. So mad he put his
own troops who were guarding Peter to death. “Go tell James and the others,” he
commanded, and then left. Leaving the apostles mystified, but also the soldiers
mystified too, and put to death for their failure to contain Peter. If God is
for us, who can be against us? And who has ever fought God and won? Even at
the cross when all seemed hopeless, it was really a victory for us in the
making. So be patient with God, wait on the Lord, he is not slow, but has a
plan in action for us as we speak. And will unfold it for us as we need to
know. But for now, be patient and wait, maybe the hardest of all things to
do.
Professional quarterbacks know what to look for as they come to the line.
Us in the same situation would be blinded, we wouldn’t know. So God gave us the
spirit to guide us at the line, in the huddle, and knocking at the door with the
answers. If only we can get up and exercise our faith, no matter how small. We
won’t win every play, but in every play we will learn something from God. In
the huddle, our prayer time, be still and listen. God has called a play for our
lives, for just this occasion. He knows the defense, and your enemies, so go
with what he calls. Don’t change it....it may be Peter at the door as the
answer, or just someone asking for the ball. Either way when you listen to God
you win. Believing is seeing, or is it the other way around?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com