Justin March leads the Bethany Lutheran Church Men’s Ministry and sends a weekly email message to the Men’s group every week.  Justin has generously permitted us to post his weekly reflections here.

The Huskers were up
big! The offense was driving up and down the field, the defense was
suffocating, and those Nittany Lions were struggling. It was a dominant
performance, and at halftime, it looked like this victory was going to be a
breeze. But I have been a Husker fan way too long, and if there is one thing I
know, it is to never get comfortable until the final whistle blows.

As it turns out, my
instincts were correct. The Big Red came out flat in the second half. The team
struggled to score, they made mistakes, and the opponent gained momentum. I do
not know if they got lazy or overconfident, but what once looked like victory,
was in danger of becoming defeat. They needed somebody to step up. They needed
someone to make one more play. And they needed a leader who would overcome
adversity and close out this win.

The offense could not
do it. They could not move the ball, run out the clock, or promise a victory.
Those Nittany Lions were gaining ground. With each passing minute, their
momentum grew. They were becoming stronger, they were becoming confident, and
they were ready to take advantage of our lack of preparation and perseverance.
The Huskers had played a great game, but somehow this opponent had a chance to
ruin the day.

Somebody had to step
up. Someone had to make one more play. A leader needed to emerge, and it needed
to happen quick. And that is when the defense decided they would bow up, carry
this team, and stop that opponent from crossing the finish line. They decided
they would use every ounce of energy, they would be strong when it mattered,
and they would win this fight. And when the final whistle blew, the Huskers
stood tall with a victory.

Maybe our journeys are
like this football game. Do we get too comfortable when times are good? Do we
let down our guard, do we get lazy at times, or do we become overconfident when
victory seems near? Do we allow the evil one to sneak up on us, gain momentum,
and stay in the game? Are we on the field, sticking to the game plan, and
executing every move with the precision God intended? If not, I can tell you
this. If we are not focused, prepared, and using every ounce of energy, our
opponent will be waiting to snatch that victory.

God needs leaders to
step up in times of adversity. He needs our lights to shine through the
darkness. He has trained, guided, and provided the tools needed for us to
execute and win. But it takes work. It takes focus, perseverance, and strength
to play every down. We must be ready for obstacles, momentum changes, storms,
and trials. And we must know that victory is not ours until we have done what
has been asked of us, shown others the truth, and spread joy, peace, and love
on this earth. It will not be easy, and the opponent will be prepared to stop
us.

So, pick up that
bible. Read those messages and share them with your teammates. Put on the full
armor of God and be ready to battle. Pray, listen, and prepare for what God has
planned. And if you do all this, if you follow the path that our “coach” has
laid out for us, and if you become the leader God needs you to be, you will be
ready for whatever happens on that field. And when the final whistle blows,
when the clock shows 0:00, and when the enemy has been exhausted, you will be
able to stand tall with the only victory that matters in this life!