“He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30

Fresno State quarterback and Heisman Trophy hopeful Derek Carr said his faith in Christ was the No. 1 thing in his life. “You can ask anyone who knows me, that’s the first thing they should tell you, and if they don’t, then I’m not doing the right thing,” he said. “Derek Carr is not the Fresno State quarterback. First of all, he’s a Christian and then he’s the Fresno State quarterback; that is what’s the most important thing to me, to be noticed as a Christian first and a quarterback second.”

In a way, it echoes what John the Baptist said about himself in John 3:30 when Jesus began His ministry. “He must become greater; I must become less.”

When Derek Carr says he wants to be known as a Christian first and then to be known for his abilities as a football player second, he wants people to see Christ in him and through his life before they see him as a quarterback. Christ must be first, or greater, and Derek Carr and his abilities must be second—a far second—and he must decrease.

It’s a reminder that the some of the most important things in the world’s eyes (sports and fame) are not the most important things in God’s eyes. If you’re a believer and people look to you and only see you and the abilities God gave you without seeing God, then they’ll miss God. Our lives shouldn’t overshadow God and what He is doing. Our lives should reflect Christ and point people to Him.

Live your life in such a way that when they look at you they’ll see God. As Derek Carr says, if they don’t then you’re “not doing the right thing.”

By Brett Honeycutt

Brett Honeycutt is the managing editor of Sports Spectrum magazine. Log in here to access our most recent Training Table. Subscribe here to receive 12 issues a year and a daily sports-related devotional.