BY HIS STRIPES MINISTRY
(for Referee's) One of the most easily recognizable symbols in all sports is the stripes on the uniform of a sport's official. Those stripes represent one of the most significant parts of the entire sporting event. When an official steps onto the field or the court wearing those stripes, there is no doubt that the authority of all things fair or foul has arrived. For the rest of the event, the individual wearing those stripes will make a judgement and determination of what is or is not allowed. It is more definitely a powerful yet humbling position!
The prophet Isaiah spoke of another form os stripes almost 3,000 years ago. "He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and BY HIS STRIPES we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5 NKJV) These stripes were not simply part of a uniform, but they were instead the marks of suffering that Jesus Christ bore for the sins of all mankind. By wearing these stripes He took upon Himself the authority to declare what is fair (righteous) or foul (unrighteous). That is why Jesus says of Himself, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6 NKJV)
Only when we are in relationship with Jesus Christ who wore the stripes upon His body for our sin can we know what it means to be right according to His judgement.
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BY HIS STRIPES
August 4, 2011
Ready:
"Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inhertiance from the Lord - you serve the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-34
Set:
What is our ultimate goal in officiating a sport? Who are we really trying to please?
Go:
It does not take very long as a sports official to realize that no matter what call you make someone is not going to be happy. It can be the absolutely right call, but there will be someone who will vehemently disagree with it. The reason that they disagree is because they have an agenda. They want whatever is going to benefit their team. That is true for players, coaches, and fans.
There is only one group of people out on the field of play that has no agenda: the official. He did not arrive at the game with any agenda or any interest in who wins or loses. The job of the official was to make sure that the game was played fairly and according to the rules. As long as he did his job, the outcome is secondary to that. He is committed to doing his job and doing it well.
This is a great metaphor for life, because if we are honest, there are a lot of people that are trying to get us to live for them. We feel pressure in our homes and on our jobs to make every one happy. The reality is that it is impossible to make every one happy. Try as hard as we might it will never happen. This can become discouraging if we let it. We must realize that our main goal in life is to please Jesus Christ. After all, He literally gave everything for us, therefore it is only right that we give Him back what He deserves. Make your main desire today to please the One that really matters above all else. A life that is lived in such a way most definitely counts for the ultimate glory of God. |
