“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” — Micah 6:8
>> Sign up here for Sports Spectrum devotionals sent right to your email inbox <<
It’s not always easy to be a follower of Christ, and that is especially true for elite athletes. In fact, it’s common for star players to be almost worshipped by others, like when someone throws a lot of touchdown passes and is instrumental in a team winning. It can be easy to feed your ego with praise, and to connect your identity to what people think and say about you, while falling into the worldly desires and definitions of success, all while being scrutinized by those watching you.
Kirk Cousins became a Christian when he was 7 years old, and made up his mind in high school to stand for Christ even if it cost him his popularity. Even as he performed well on the field and got a scholarship to play for Michigan State, he stood for Christ. He got drafted in 2012 into the NFL, where he continues to excel and play hard to this day, all while standing for Christ.
Kirk is an outspoken Christian with a public platform, so people recognize him and are always watching to see what he’ll say and do. On social media, he quotes Micah 6:8, which says, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” It’s easier to talk about being kind and humble than it is to actually walk our talk.
I was thrilled recently when my nephew interacted with Kirk at a place of business in the Atlanta area, after he signed with the Falcons. After spending a few minutes speaking with Kirk, the young man related that the Atlanta quarterback was “more down to earth” than any of the other celebrities who came to that business.
It’s not uncommon for the rich and famous — or anyone — to mistreat or ignore the help, but Kirk honored God by treating a service professional with the same respect he treats his fellow millionaires. In a world where many people are busy burning bridges with rude behavior, it’s refreshing for somebody to exemplify Christ and build bridges for communication of the Gospel. “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers” (James 2:8-9).
On that same visit, Kirk brought his wife, Julie, and his sons, Cooper and Turner. As the young worker watched Cousins interacting with his family and honoring them as important people in his life, it made a profound impression. Kirk lived out the Scripture of a man loving his wife and teaching his children to live Christlike, just as Ephesians 5:25 instructs us to do. When Cooper and Turner grow up, they will know how to treat their wives and also how to be a great example for others.
That’s a great legacy!
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia
>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him <<
>> Purchase “The Increase 52 Week Devotional” to further grow your relationship with Christ <<
>> Dive more into God’s Word with Sports Spectrum through the YouVersion Bible App <<
If you would like to submit a devotional, please email all submissions to
devotionals@sportsspectrum.com
