Competing With GritSample

Teamwork: Your Position

READY

“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.” — Romans 12:6 (NLT)

SET

Timing is everything. Surely, you’ve heard this phrase in the sports world. Quarterbacks and wide receivers work on their timing. Runners monitor their pace. Base runners time their leadoff for a steal. The concept of timing transcends minutes and seconds to focus on rhythm and synchronization. 

But is timing truly everything? Think about it. A team can have great timing on a certain play, but if you’re not in the right location, the play won’t work. That’s why coaches don’t set up offenses for routine half-court shots nor do coaches call for a field goal beyond the 50-yard line. More importantly, if players aren’t in the correct positions to fit their skillsets, timing doesn’t matter because it will never come together. 

This same adage coincides with the dynamics of a team. A team can possess all the talent in the world, be in the right location to succeed, but if players and coaches aren’t in the right positions, then the team won’t be effective. We must know our positions. That’s when true teamwork takes off.

Do you know your position on God’s team? It’s only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that you receive a spot on God’s team for eternity. Life won’t make sense until you accept this invitation. When you say yes and join, you receive a new identity and special giftings through God’s Spirit that comes to live inside you (Galatians 2:20). 

The Bible is clear that God gives spiritual gifts and abilities to each member of His team. Do you know your spiritual gifts? For some, God provides the ability to teach. Others may receive the ability to encourage and serve. When you discover more of who God created you to be in Christ, you are empowered to live out your calling and help others do the same. Just as a team needs each player and coach to be in the right position, the body of Christ needs each member to be in the right position. 

Now, here’s the important thing: No one position is more important than another. God uniquely created each one of us. No difference exists between “practice players” or “starters” on God’s team—we each have a purposeful role to play. Isn’t that the essence of a team, anyway? Each person brings his or her talents and abilities together in order to achieve a common goal. 

On God’s team, we strive to fulfill the Great Commission of making disciples of Jesus Christ by going all over the world to share the Good News. As a team, fellow Christ-followers are called to serve one another and strive for unity. We each have a role. You have a role. I have a role. We are pursuing a huge goal, but we have an even greater God.

The timing is now. The location is wherever God has placed you. Your position is yours to accept. The team is counting on you.

GO

• How is God positioning you to make an impact on your earthly team?
• What are your spiritual gifts?
• What holds you back from living out your spiritual gifts? Do you see others’ spiritual gifts as more important than yours? 

WORKOUT

Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-12; Matthew 28:18-20

OVERTIME

“Lord, open the eyes of my heart to see my position on Your team. Increase my understanding of the spiritual gifts You have given me. Empower me through Your Holy Spirit to take advantage of opportunities to fulfill the Great Commission wherever You place me. Use me for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Scott Staal