[362 words]
The American League and National League division games in Major League Baseball have been great, haven’t they? Okay, so the Tigers didn’t have the start we’d like, but there are more opportunities to win, aren’t there?
When one goes to a baseball, football or basketball game, that person goes as a spectator. There may be those of us who would love to play. There may even be those who think they could play and win, but only the players can make that happen on the field or court. Otherwise, we are confined to the seats or bleachers. The Christian life, however, is not like this. We are expected to get involved. We cannot sit as spectators while people are losing their lives and their souls. We must act!
The apostle John wrote that when we see someone in need, we just cannot sit as spectators. He wrote, “But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:17 NASB).
Can you see the word, “spectator,” here? It’s there. John wrote, “sees his brother in need.” The word translated “sees” is from a word in the original that means “spectator.” If one who calls himself a Christian watches from a distance and won’t help, but instead closes his heart, then how does the love of God abide in him?
It’s easy to be a spectator, but it takes more commitment to be a helper. A spectator merely occupies a seat and has a foam finger in his hand. The spectator yells, “Yay! Way to go!” and then leaves the stadium not caring what the players may be suffering.
We can’t be spectators sitting “on the sidelines.” We must get involved. We must help. There’s a song we sing that tells us, “Who will follow Jesus / Standing for the right? / Holding up his banner / In the thickest fight / Listening for his orders / Ready to obey / Who will follow Jesus / Serving him today?”
Have you been sitting on the sideline? Isn’t it time to get into the action and start using your life following Jesus?
John Henson
Grand Blanc Church of Christ
Grand Blanc, MI