| FCA DAILY IMPACT PLAY Remembering Your Influence |
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| “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” - Hebrews 13:16 |
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Two nights ago I was at the arena preparing our lacrosse team for the playoffs. After our team was finished, a team from another city arrived to compete for a championship game later that evening. It was a team from a city where I’d lived and coached five years ago. In fact, I’d actually taught many of the athletes on this team how to play lacrosse when the association first started.
As with other teams I had coached in the past, men who had been boys when I coached them were greeting me as they came into the arena. Some stopped to share what they had been doing over the last few years. Through their warm conversations and solid handshakes, I was reminded of just how much of an impact we as coaches have on the lives of our athletes. When I’d coached them five years ago, I had not yet given my life to Christ, so conversations about God’s grace would not have happened. I soon felt conviction set in as I thought about how many opportunities I’d missed.
That’s when a new question entered my mind. In the past three years since I surrendered my life to Christ, how much have I communicated Him with my teams? How many opportunities have I let pass by? Seeing these athletes that I’d coached five-plus years ago put into perspective just how much a coach can influence an athlete.
As Christian coaches, we need to keep this in mind and remember that God has placed us in these positions to bring Him to our teams. Whether that is through actions or words, we have to keep in mind that we can be pleasing to Him and help build His Kingdom if we act when He presents opportunities. Really, this lesson can apply to anyone: athletes, students, teachers, parents. We all have influence over others in our lives.
The bottom line is that as a Christian—someone who has the Holy Spirit of Christ living within—how much of an impact can be made for the Lord when we follow Him and seize the opportunities He gives us to share Him with others. Let’s remember not to forget.
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| Why is it important to communicate Christ with others? As a coach or athlete, how can you communicate Christ to your team? There are many different methods of communicating. Think outside the box for a moment. What are some creative ways that you can share Christ that you may not have considered before? |
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| Father God, help me rely on you each moment of the day. Let your name be on my lips and stuck in my heart as I interact with others. Give me opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus on the earth. |
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