Two weeks ago Wyatt, my oldest son (nearly 4), had his first day out with soccer.  It did not go so well.  He was overwhelmed by the amount of kids and cried and stuck to my leg the entire time.  Last week was better.  Small steps, right?

One day I thought, wouldn’t it be great to just get all of Wyatt’s friends together to have soccer each week.  We could teach them the fundamentals and he could hang out with his friends.  But then I realized that there was no fun in that at all!  There would be no games.  Just practice.  What is the point of practice if you don’t get to play?

But isn’t that like the church?  We practice, practice, practice.  But most just choose to sit on the sidelines.  We don’t serve anyone.  We don’t build authentic relationships.  We don’t invest in a person who is far from Christ.  We practice a lot.  But we never enjoy the thrill of the game.

Why?  Are we scared?  Are we lazy?  Are we comfortable?  I don’t know.  Maybe yes to some, no to others.  I’m sure it is different for all of us.

But Hebrews 12:1-2 says:

1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,

2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.

I’m proud to be part of a church where 50%+ serve in some capacity.  But it doesn’t end in serving.  If you haven’t already, get in the game this Easter.  Get on a team and serve.  Drag your neighbor with you to church.

Get in the game.  It’s there that you experience the thrill of victory – not sitting on the sidelines.