A CREED TO LIVE BY

DAY 31 Winning Edge Devotions

2 TIM. 1: 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

One year my football seniors met for a leadership retreat at the beginning of the season. We worked through expectations, goals, and requirements for the team. In the six sessions, each senior was asked to consider what it meant to be a leader and a Biblical man. One of my activities that season was to begin writing a football creed. We challenged the seniors to work with the coaches to come up with a creed that expresses the special process of our football program and include our Christian distinctive.

I split the seniors into three groups and made it a competition to see which group could come up with the best “creed”. Here are some of their individual lines within the results:
“Alone you will fail, together we will succeed”
“We suffer together so that we can persevere together”
“Be bold to stand against culture”
“Train and play like a champion”
“Live with humility”
“Honor your brothers”

The coaches and seniors worked on this throughout the season and presented the results at the football banquet. They did a great job! They had Christ as their example and God’s word as the standard.

Football is a special game. The pressure of competition and the physical contact creates a need for “brothers”. The heat and humidity of tough two-a-days and the soreness of a body from intense hitting forges a relationship that is very hard to communicate. It is the hard work and sacrifice that makes “Friday Night Lights” a significant rite of passage for millions of young men in our culture every year.

I am also confident that this process will be more than words. These guys are writing a creed that they will live by. Have you thought about doing the same? At the end of this 31- day project I encourage you to sit down and write a statement about who you are and how you plan to live each day as a champion! May the Lord continue to bless your walk!

Check the next post to read the Creed.