UNPACK This...Biblical Truth From the Super BowlSample

Going All-in

A key element to the Los Angeles Rams’ victory in Super Bowl 56 was the organization’s all-in approach.

General Manager, Les Snead, made it clear that he was going to do whatever it took to put the franchise in a position to win a championship.

One of Snead’s most notable transactions was trading Jared Goff and three draft picks to the Detroit Lions for quarterback Matthew Stafford. While Stafford was significantly older than Goff and the three draft picks were valuable assets, the Rams were confident that the deal would make them better for a championship run.

The high-profile trade for Goff coincided with the Rams also parting with lucrative draft picks in order to bring in star players such as Jalen Ramsey, Von Miller, and Sony Michel.

The Rams demonstrated they were not worried about hanging onto future assets, and the result was a 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals and a Super Bowl trophy.

As we think about the Rams’ all-in approach, the encouragement for us today is to not hold back and be all-in when it comes to following Jesus.

Jesus says in Luke 9:23, “If anyone wishes to follow Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

Following Jesus isn’t simply making a one-time decision; it is willingly choosing to do whatever it takes to be fully surrendered to Him. Sometimes that means sacrificing what is good for what is best. Other times it means suffering for staying faithful to His commandments.

Romans 12:1 gives us this challenge: “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him.”

Let’s be encouraged that when we go all-in to love and serve God and live according to His ways, He will allow us to experience true victory in life.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please reveal what I’m holding back that keeps me from being fully surrendered to You. I pray that I would be all-in as I seek You, follow Jesus, and obey Your ways. I pray my life would be a living sacrifice that is pleasing to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.