Strength with Humility…and the Detroit Lions

It’s very fun to be a Detroit Lion fan right now.  We walk into every game feeling a bit invincible. We have a record the team hasn’t seen since the 1930s, and our guys are making it look easy. After we beat the Jaguars 52-6 last Sunday, I heard a Detroit sports announcer say, “I’ve always wondered what it would feel like to win a game by almost 50 points as a Lions fan.”

We all love the feeling of success and being on top every now and then.  For sports fans in Detroit, it certainly has been a long time coming.  However, there is a humility that comes with this feeling because we have felt like the underdog for so long.

Humility while feeling strong is a honorable way to live.  It’s true in sports and in life.  I believe this tension is hard to maintain for very long outside the Kingdom of God.

In Sports, once you become a dominant team over a period of decades, there is a swagger that comes with both the fans and the players.  Consider the NY Yankees, Dallas Cowboys, or the Los Angeles Lakers; these fans and teams are not exactly known for their humility.

As Christians, living in and for the Kingdom of God, we can have both humility and strength in equal measure.  Why?  Because we are walking in His strength, not our own.

Gal. 5:25 says, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

I love the phrase “keeping in step with the spirit”.  It reminds me of the times my young kids stepped on top of my shoes and walked with me while I held their hands.  They kept in perfect step with me, their father.

When you keep in step with the Spirit, you have the confidence of walking exactly with the one in charge, while the humility of knowing it wasn’t anything you did, or even could plan. This is why we don’t become conceited, because It isn’t our idea, plans, or accomplishments.  It was the Spirit’s leading and guiding.  When we believe this we stay humble.

So what does it mean to ‘live by the Spirit”? It starts with knowing and trusting God’s heart.  In order to live by the Spirit of God you must know God and his good heart toward you.  You must believe that when He leads you somewhere He has love and your best interest in mind.

The best way to get to know the heart of someone is to spend time with that person.  The same is true of God.  Too often, however, we think this means getting to know ABOUT God.  So we learn theology, maybe memorize scripture, or compare different religions or denominations in the church.  Although this may be a good and worthy pursuit, this knowledge isn’t necessarily going to lead to trusting and loving God.

When we live by the Spirit we walk into the mystery of being with God in prayer and allowing him to change our heart.  The Scriptures aren’t just a document to study, but a love letter to meditate on.  Communion isn’t just a service to attend, but a mystery where we enter into the communion of a Triune God.

When change happens in our life over time, usually many years, we begin to find ourselves keeping ‘in step with the Spirit’ of God naturally.  Unlike an athlete who works towards discipling her body to accomplish something on the field or court, our goal is more about getting to know the coach.  Living by the Spirit isn’t about accomplishment, it’s about relationship with God.  When we really believe this, there is no room for conceit or pride, even if God leads us to accomplish great things.

Who knows if the Detroit Lions will ever be a dynasty team?  Who knows if we will even win the Super Bowl this year?  If it happens, we certainly will be in danger of being accused of being arrogant fans in the future!

As Christians and citizens in His Kingdom, we always know who deserves the praise and glory for our victories.  We also can stay steady during defeats.  Why? Because He has ultimately won the battle in this world through his death on the cross, My relationship with Him is secure based on nothing I’ve done; nothing I’ve achieved or accomplished.  So I stay humble.

Humility with Strength. This is how we can live when we keep in step with the Spirit.  May it be true of us more and more as we get to know the heart of the Father.

Blessings and peace,

Rev. Todd