A coach was searched for, to bring these young men together who were “stars,” and had won national championships, etc. As you might suspect, when these young men they came together, there would be the clash of egos as to who was the best, who they played with previously.
The goal of the coach though was to drive that mindset out of them. It was not about where they came from, who they played for, how good they thought they were against their fellow teammate, but their coming together as one mind, a team unified to play the game.
The coach would say, “Who are you and who do you play for?” And different ones would say, “Sir, I am and so and so and I play for…” And then they would say their former team that they had played for and been the “star of.”
There was one scene when what the coach was shooting for, was accomplished. These guys had been playing exhibitions games and it was obvious they were distracted and not playing as a team – they were playing by their own egos. They were self-centered, ego driven.
After this one game, the coach made arrangements for them to stay there on the ice. There he made them go down the one end of the rink, and then back. Once they did this, he said, “Again!” Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, they had to go on the ice.
Finally, after sweat was pouring down their faces, and having exhaustion from having played a game that evening, one of them got it. He blurted out, “Sir, my name is so and so, and I play for the United States of America.”
The coach left then – that was what he was looking for – a unified understanding that they were no longer individuals - where they came from, but a USA Olympic Team.
So how did this speak to me? At the time I was looking more closely to what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is indeed and also the great difference (a gulf) between Law and Grace.
Grace is only found in the Gospel. And Paul made it clear – the Law is not of faith – The Gospel is about only faith in the Son of God. So the Gospel surely is not my individual “spin,” but up to me to learn from God what His Gospel truly is.
When the coach in the movie was saying, “Again,” they got it, I felt that way too. I felt that God wanted me to look into His Word again, and again, and again, and again until “I got it!”
And after all these years, I can see some things that God was driving home to my heart. One of those things is that to be IN CHRIST is about being in SOMEONE. The LIFE of Christ is us is the only way to have fruit in our lives.
Otherwise it truly is an independent self seeking to live by principles alone, (the Law), working out of their own efforts and abilities, leaving Christ as LIFE totally out of the picture. “The just shall LIVE by faith.” (in Him – Galatians 2:20)
Without the reality of the HEAD over His body, then it appears at times the body of Christ is disjointed and seemingly not the unity of the Spirit ALL looking at Jesus Christ as Source of all.
Individually I do believe God works in our lives and we really are individual members – but we are also ONE body – and there is only ONE Lord, ONE Father, ONE faith, ONE Spirit.
Therefore, God’s goal is to bring the members together who are not “lone rangers,” but understand the habitation of God’s Spirit through Jesus Christ. Therefore, there is no religion, no independent spirits, but our very lives and existence are rooted in the Person of Jesus Christ.
May we understand more fully, that we truly DIED to ALL – where we came from, who we were, what we did, etc. And we’ve come into the Son of God. He is the New Creation - we are NEW only in Him. “Walk in the newness of Life.” (Rom. 6)
“Thank you, God that YOU truly can teach us all, what this means.”
Sue Gaither
P.S. By the way, the USA Olympic Team won the gold medal.
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