Imagine for a moment that you have some important information to share that is international in scope, information that can potentially affect the life of every person on planet Earth. How would you get that information out? Hold a summit meeting with all the world's leaders? Perhaps you would have a world concert in key locations, using only the biggest name bands and rock musicians. Or maybe you would choose some famous celebrities as key spokespersons.
How would you feel about using a 3rd string quarterback, barely past his rookie year in the NFL? Despite an impressive college career (a Heisman Trophy winner in his sophomore year and 2 NCAA championships), all the experts agree he is not NFL quarterback material. In particular, his passing game is considered very weak. In a league where the average quarterback passes for at least 300 yards per game, this quarterback usually passes under 200 yards, and his passes are all too often intercepted.
Those of you who follow NFL football know where I'm going. In the last few months, Tim Tebow of the Denver Broncos has shot to the forefront of NFL football like a rising comet. The Broncos were 1–4, when Tebow became starting quarterback in mid-October. In the 8 games since then, Tebow has led the Broncos to 7 wins, coming from behind in the 4th quarter 6 times, a feat unparalleled in NFL history.
While he's becoming legendary for pulling wins out of defeats at the last moment, Tim Tebow is also creating a stir because of his frank declaration of faith in Jesus Christ. Pictures of him kneeling to thank God in prayer have become iconic, and the stance has been coined "Tebowing." and is being imitated around the world. In 2009, while still a college student, Tebow put the scripture reference John 3:16 on his eye paint, and 92 million people Googled the verse.
Tebow is unapologetic about his faith. He has stated, "My biggest prayer is that win or lose, good or bad, I'm still the same guy. I honor the Lord either way, and I'm not changing no matter what happens." While not everyone appreciates his spokesmanship for God, coaches and the players who know him best describe him as extremely hard-working, obsessed with self-improvement, modest, genuine, and "a real leader who freely gives credit to others."
There can be no doubt that Tebow has been given an extraordinary platform from which to declare his love and loyalty to Jesus Christ. Even his rivals seem to like him. When asked about Tebow, Robert Kraft, owner of the Boston Patriots said, " He's a real fine young man. I sort of like that he's about spirituality, and that the country is thinking about spirituality."
As we approach Christmas, I am reminded that God frequently uses ordinary people to accomplish the most extraordinary things. Take Mary and Joseph for instance. They were just two very ordinary citizens of Nazareth who became the earthly parents of God Himself. When God wanted to do the most extraordinary thing of all time: become a human being Himself, He chose to come in the form of an ordinary infant. But when God touches a situation, what begins as ordinary becomes extraordinary!,
I challenge you to do something different this Christmas. Allow God to touch your life and experience what happens when the ordinary becomes extraordinary!
Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. My sermon is ""Mighty God–Everlasting Father," the third message in our current series "A Prophetic Christmas."
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