“He must become greater; I must become less.” — John 3:30
He is Greater than I
There are a lot of words that could be used to describe New England Patriots special teams captain Matthew Slater:
Winner — He has won three Super Bowls in his 13-year NFL career. and participated in five overall.
All-Star — Slater has been named to nine Pro Bowls as a standout “gunner” on special teams for the Patriots.
Leader — He has been named as one the captains of the Patriots for the last 10 seasons, and is sought out in the locker room as a role model and person to turn to for advice.
But there is one word that Matthew Slater particular enjoys being described as: Worshipper.
Slater is a follower of Jesus and he strives to worship and glorify Christ both on and off the football field. Reflecting on his career, Slater recently commented, “I know that God is ordering my steps, and He’s decided this for me so that I could glorify and lift up His name.”
One of Slater’s favorite hats to wear in the locker room and off the field is a hat produced by an apparel company in Hawaii called HE>i. The name is a creative reference to John the Baptist’s words in the Gospel of John, Chapter 3, where John proclaims to a group of his followers that Jesus is the one to be worshipped, not him. That hat reminds Slater that his football and athletic gifts are not a vehicle to make his name great, but a platform to worship and bring glory to God.
Make it your prayer today to be a worshiper of Jesus, glorifying His name above your name throughout your day.
— Matt Doan, Pastor at Calvary Church in Orange County, Calif.
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