As we entered the opening weekend of football season all eyes were on Johnny Manziel. In case you are not a football fan, Johnny Manziel is the star quarterback for Texas A&M. He mesmerized many last year in his freshman year, with his quick feet and ability to pass the ball. He is the first freshman to ever take the elite Heisman Trophy. Things seemed to be going as well as could be expected for this young, athletic star. Then just a few weeks ago the accusations started rolling in concerning money for autographs. If you followed the story, you know that is was quickly resolved with a half game suspension (which was odd if there was no offense). Many people felt like this case was not adequately investigated and the rumors started to fly. So as game day approached all eyes were on Johnny Football to see how he would perform. He still had all the moves, but seemed to be lacking in other areas. This is a little exert a commentary had to say about him:
Everything he has done and said since the Heisman Trophy has affirmed Manziel's belief that he cannot be touched that he is bigger than the university he represents, that he is even above NCAA rules. After everything Manziel has gone through the last few weeks – and make no mistake, he's very lucky to have been on the field at all Saturday against Rice – you'd think maybe just a smidge of humility might have been in order.
Instead, after sitting out his NCAA-mandated suspension in the first half, Manziel returned and threw three touchdowns in the Aggies' 52-31 victory. But he didn't finish the game, as Sumlin yanked him after he earned a taunting penalty following a touchdown pass to Mike Evans with 9:48 remaining. That followed Manziel's blatant "Show me the Money" hand gesture after a touchdown and an apparent "air autograph" directed toward a Rice player. Manziel, of course, was likely responding to trash talk from Rice's players about the autograph controversy that put him in the NCAA's cross hairs this summer. But as Sumlin told the news media after Saturday's game, Manziel is going to hear it all year long. "That wasn't very smart. That's why he didn't go back in the game either," Sumlin said. "You would hope at this point, you'd learn something from that. We're still working on that. He wasn't going back in the game no matter what was happening." It's quite obvious now that Sumlin still has a very immature player on his hands, one who is brilliantly talented enough to take Texas A&M all the way to a Southeastern Conference title but also one who is just volatile and narcissistic enough to implode on him. Texas A&M just wants 12 more games out of Manziel without incident, but deep down Sumlin must know that might be too much to ask unless he asserts some control and makes Manziel understand that his actions have consequences.
Wow here is a player that seems to have everything he needs to go all the way to the top of his sport, except one little thing, humility in his actions. How sad to think God has blessed a person with all the ability, but they might not reach their goal because of their own pride. I am not trying to judge him, but the point is when you have much, the responsibility is much. If you are at the top of your sport with millions of people watching you, then your responsibility just grew by leaps and bounds, regardless of what you wanted. The same is true in our Christian lives. God gives us each spiritual gifts to carry out the task He has planned for us. However, it is up to the individual to use the spiritual gift in such a way that would honor God. If we confess to the world we are a Christian, then suddenly all eyes are on our every movement, and our responsibility level has skyrocketed. As Christians we do not have the luxury of second chances with non-believers. We do not have the luxury of living like the world for a week, a day, or even one minute. One temper flare, one fling, one dishonest action; non-believers will write you off in a New York second.
You see Manziels actions hurt himself, but also his school, his teammates, and his coach. He was their representative, and failed to do that with class. In the same way, we are Christ representatives, so every time we fail, we represent our Savior poorly. There are times in life we cannot afford to make a mistake, especially in our Christian lives. How many people, great influential people, end up being a stumbling block for thousands of people because they mess up. I am not suggesting we could ever be perfect; however, I am suggesting sometimes we get one shot to reach people. As Christians we can never afford to do life by our self. I am not sure about you, but when I do life by myself (without Christ) it never ends well.
As we know there is always grace and forgiveness in the arms of our Lord and Savior, but not always with others. Some have already made up their mind about “Johnny Football” no matter what he does from this point. The same is true for us as Christians. The non-believer is always looking for ammunition to defend why they should not attend church, or be saved. We are not capable of living up to our high, priority roles as Christians without God’s daily guidance.
Romans 7:14-16 The Message Bible I can anticipate the response that is coming: “I know that all God’s commands are spiritual, but I’m not. Isn’t this also your experience?” Yes. I’m full of myself—after all, I’ve spent a long time in sin’s prison. What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary.
Everything he has done and said since the Heisman Trophy has affirmed Manziel's belief that he cannot be touched that he is bigger than the university he represents, that he is even above NCAA rules. After everything Manziel has gone through the last few weeks – and make no mistake, he's very lucky to have been on the field at all Saturday against Rice – you'd think maybe just a smidge of humility might have been in order.
Instead, after sitting out his NCAA-mandated suspension in the first half, Manziel returned and threw three touchdowns in the Aggies' 52-31 victory. But he didn't finish the game, as Sumlin yanked him after he earned a taunting penalty following a touchdown pass to Mike Evans with 9:48 remaining. That followed Manziel's blatant "Show me the Money" hand gesture after a touchdown and an apparent "air autograph" directed toward a Rice player. Manziel, of course, was likely responding to trash talk from Rice's players about the autograph controversy that put him in the NCAA's cross hairs this summer. But as Sumlin told the news media after Saturday's game, Manziel is going to hear it all year long. "That wasn't very smart. That's why he didn't go back in the game either," Sumlin said. "You would hope at this point, you'd learn something from that. We're still working on that. He wasn't going back in the game no matter what was happening." It's quite obvious now that Sumlin still has a very immature player on his hands, one who is brilliantly talented enough to take Texas A&M all the way to a Southeastern Conference title but also one who is just volatile and narcissistic enough to implode on him. Texas A&M just wants 12 more games out of Manziel without incident, but deep down Sumlin must know that might be too much to ask unless he asserts some control and makes Manziel understand that his actions have consequences.
Wow here is a player that seems to have everything he needs to go all the way to the top of his sport, except one little thing, humility in his actions. How sad to think God has blessed a person with all the ability, but they might not reach their goal because of their own pride. I am not trying to judge him, but the point is when you have much, the responsibility is much. If you are at the top of your sport with millions of people watching you, then your responsibility just grew by leaps and bounds, regardless of what you wanted. The same is true in our Christian lives. God gives us each spiritual gifts to carry out the task He has planned for us. However, it is up to the individual to use the spiritual gift in such a way that would honor God. If we confess to the world we are a Christian, then suddenly all eyes are on our every movement, and our responsibility level has skyrocketed. As Christians we do not have the luxury of second chances with non-believers. We do not have the luxury of living like the world for a week, a day, or even one minute. One temper flare, one fling, one dishonest action; non-believers will write you off in a New York second.
You see Manziels actions hurt himself, but also his school, his teammates, and his coach. He was their representative, and failed to do that with class. In the same way, we are Christ representatives, so every time we fail, we represent our Savior poorly. There are times in life we cannot afford to make a mistake, especially in our Christian lives. How many people, great influential people, end up being a stumbling block for thousands of people because they mess up. I am not suggesting we could ever be perfect; however, I am suggesting sometimes we get one shot to reach people. As Christians we can never afford to do life by our self. I am not sure about you, but when I do life by myself (without Christ) it never ends well.
As we know there is always grace and forgiveness in the arms of our Lord and Savior, but not always with others. Some have already made up their mind about “Johnny Football” no matter what he does from this point. The same is true for us as Christians. The non-believer is always looking for ammunition to defend why they should not attend church, or be saved. We are not capable of living up to our high, priority roles as Christians without God’s daily guidance.
Romans 7:14-16 The Message Bible I can anticipate the response that is coming: “I know that all God’s commands are spiritual, but I’m not. Isn’t this also your experience?” Yes. I’m full of myself—after all, I’ve spent a long time in sin’s prison. What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary.
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