“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” — Romans 12:4-5
>> Sign up here for Sports Spectrum devotionals sent right to your email inbox <<
One of the most valuable lessons sports teach us is how to be a good teammate. Whether on the field, the court, or the course, the best players aren’t always the most talented — they’re the ones who know how to elevate the people around them. Some of the best teammates in history never became household names, but they left a mark because of the way they served others.
Take Udonis Haslem, for example. He spent two decades with the Miami Heat but was rarely the star. Instead, he was the voice in the locker room, the one who held teammates accountable and encouraged young players. Or think about Nick Foles, who stepped in as a backup quarterback and led the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl win — all while deflecting praise and pointing to his teammates and his faith in God. Or baseball’s Kevin Millar, who was admittedly not the most skilled player, but just about everyone who played with him would attest to how valuable he was as a teammate for the Boston Red Sox during their miracle 2004 World Series run.
That’s the power of being a good teammate — just your presence makes everyone else better.
The Bible teaches us the same principle. Paul writes, “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” (Romans 12:4–5). Not everyone is the “star player,” but every role matters.
Being a Christian is not a solo sport. We are teammates on the same mission, called to encourage one another, sacrifice for one another, and fight for one another. Moses needed Aaron and Hur to hold up his arms during battle (Exodus 17:12). David had Jonathan, who risked his own standing with his father, Saul, to protect and encourage his friend (1 Samuel 20). Even Jesus surrounded Himself with 12 disciples and sent them out two by two (Mark 6:7).
Being a teammate sometimes means setting aside personal glory for the good of the group. It means showing up for others when they’re struggling, even if it costs us something. It means defending those who can’t defend themselves. It means carrying one another’s burdens, just as Paul commanded: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
On the field of faith, we need teammates who will pray for us, check in when life gets hard, celebrate our victories, and pick us up when we stumble. And we are called to be that kind of teammate for others.
You don’t have to be the most gifted, the loudest, or the one in the spotlight. Like Haslem, Foles or Millar, you can make your biggest impact by being faithful, encouraging and committed to the people God has placed around you. And in doing so, you reflect Jesus — the ultimate teammate, who laid down His life so we could share in His victory.
— Cole Claybourn
>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him <<
>> 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
