The Own Goal

The game of soccer is quite obscure to me. I've watched many times but rarely, have I come to totally comprehend the sport. It's a curious game to me. So much is determined on spacing and timing. More coordination than maybe even Sychronized Swimming (which I'm not sure I'm ready to call a sport).

At any rate, while much planning and coordination goes into this sport, there is always a very specific moment where a goal requires absolutely no coordination and sychronization at all. A moment when the chance of someone being in the wrong place at the wrong time, doing a specific action with a result that usually changes the game's feel, pace and momentum.

The Own Goal.

Hardly ever a purposeful action, it produces the worst feeling in the world. Never feels good, always makes the doubt inside of you rise to levels never felt before and typically gives the other team a spark they might not have experienced otherwise.

Reminds me of the battle we face, as followers of Christ. Those moments in our lives when we score a goal for the other team. The moments when we simply choose to ignore the guidelines we have been given to help us live lives that are holy and set apart.

The crazy thing is that when we commit these moments of unforeseen disobedience, it makes us feel unwanted, unworthy and unqualified, and most times these are our own applications of shame.
So, today, when you tally that Own Goal, remember He saw it coming. He died for all of it. And no matter what, you are wanted, you have been made worthy, and you are qualified to do the work He has set before you.

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? - Romans 6:1-3

GC