“I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger.” — Job 29:15-16
>> Sign up here for Sports Spectrum devotionals sent right to your email inbox <<
Each NFL team has a practice squad, which gives them more players available for scrimmages during the week in preparation for games, provides emergency roster help, and develops young players into future starters. Though many NFL players live in gated communities during the season and enjoy visiting expensive resorts during the offseason, practice squad players often live quite differently since they make much less than the stars on the team.
Players on the practice squad don’t usually have opportunities to appear in commercials and “build their brand” like athletes on the regular roster. Some are only known by their immediate family and close friends. I imagine some practice squad players could feel lonesome, and if they are ignored, it is likely not easy to keep a good attitude.
The forgotten ones need a lift from others. It’s important to look beyond ourselves and be an encourager. Sometimes we get so busy with our schedule that we don’t see people who fall down and might be struggling to get back on their feet.
The Book of Job tells us that Job was “blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1). We are told that Job paid attention to the weak and weary. He reached out and helped the disabled, the poor and the neglected ones. “I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger” (Job 29:15-16). Knowing how God viewed Job’s righteousness and was pleased by it, we would do well to learn from how he lived.
When Jesus lived in Galilee, He noticed people who were overlooked by the majority. Even though the lepers had a contagious disease, Jesus shocked everybody by risking His health to touch and heal them. As Jesus traveled, people with all kinds of ailments looked to Him for hope, knowing Jesus wouldn’t ignore them even if others did. “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor” (Matthew 11:5).
As Jesus explained genuine Christianity, He said if we treat people well who may not be able to benefit us in any way, our faith looks real (Luke 6:27-36). If we don’t show kindness regularly to others, it looks like we are pretending.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Matthew 25:35-36). In so many words, Jesus said every day is an opportunity to show kindness to others, and in so doing, we please God through our Christlike behavior.
So take a moment to intentionally look around for those forgotten or under the radar, and find a way to bless them today.
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia
>> 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
