Don’t Try to be a Quarterback

1 Corinthians 12:1-12

Last Sunday was Super Bowl LII in all its pageantry. TV, newspapers, radio, social media and the Internet were filled with hype during the two weeks leading up to the game. All of this, culminating in pre-game shows that lasted all day long.

 The star of the game was the MVP – Nick Foles. He is the back-up quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles who stepped in for the injured starter late in the season. But as good as he played, he couldn’t have done it by himself.

What would have happened if everyone played quarterback? Wouldn’t that be silly! There would be nobody to block, nobody to run, nobody to receive passes. Instead, each player used his skills to help the Eagles achieve an improbable victory.

 The same is true for the body of Christ. We all have our own God given gifts.

⁴ There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. ⁶ God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. ⁷ A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.      NLT

Everyone wants to be a star. Maybe not in the traditional sense of an athlete or an entertainer. But in the sense that we all want to do something significant; something that makes a difference; something that we do well because we’re gifted at doing it. God wants you to be a star in the very best sense of the word.

 He created you with certain gifts and abilities to accomplish this.

 ¹³ For you created my inmost being;

    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful, I know that full well.     Psalm 139 NIV

 He created you with a plan for your life.

 ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2 NIV

 So don’t try to be a quarterback when you’re a lineman. Learn what gifts God has given you, and then faithfully use them in His service. And then, like Nick Foles, persevere because who knows, maybe someday you’ll be in the Super Bowl.