I'm a littler later than usual in posting my mid-week worship thoughts. The fact is, given the pace of the past several weeks, I took a time out. Oddly enough, the title of last Wednesday's sermon was, "The Beauty of the Time Out!"
I'm the Chaplain of the Lakeview Academy High School football team. For that (and because I volunteer to head up the chain crew) I get to watch the game from field level. I watch the coaches call all sorts of offensive plays and defensive sets. I see all types of schemes and variations. Very often, however, one of the most important "calls" of the game is "time out."
A time out is most often called at a critical time during the game...when the next play is of particular importance. It gives the team a chance to get out from under the pressure of the time clock and to settle down. There is always a conversation that takes place. The coach may say to his quarterback, "What are you seeing? What is the middle linebacker (or some other position) doing?" Then the coach calls the next play. He gives instruction. The team re-takes the field with renewed focus and determination. The outcome of a game can actually depend on a well placed time out.
Jesus knew a little something about the value of a time out. He had made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem amidst the cheers and shouts of the crowd. He began a week of intense teaching. During the week, he cleared the temple saying, "you have made my house a den of robbers." He gathered his followers in an upper room where he predicted that one would betray Him and another would deny him three times before the sun came up the next day. He had even predicted His own death. It was a panicky, fearful, chaotic, emotionally frenzied time. Jesus said to His friends, "Come to the garden to pray with me." Or... Jesus called a time out.
As Jesus made his way to the garden to pray, it was a critical time. The fate of the whole world depended on what would happen during the next 72 hours. Jesus took the time to settle down. He had a conversation with His Father saying, "Abba...Father...if there is any other way...let this cup pass." In a moment that passed just between Jesus and His Father, He knew what had to be done. Jesus said, "not my will, but Yours be done." God...if you will...called the play. Jesus arose with renewed focus and determination. When the soldiers came for Him, led by the betrayer, Jesus simply looked at him and said, "Friend...do what you came for." (To read about the actual events...not just my paraphrase of them...read the accounts found in Matthew, Mark, Luke or John.)
We often find ourselves panicky, fearful, and emotionally frenzied. Our world seems chaotic. We may be in the depths of despair or caught up in overly enthusiastic, impetuous pursuits. The most important thing you can do in those times just may be calling Time Out! Settle down. Have a conversation with your Father (of the heavenly kind...although the earthly kind can often be counted on for some pretty good perspective). Receive your instructions (or...discern what you feel is best or what must be done). Arise with renewed focus and determination.
Time out over. Game on. Put me in coach...I'm ready to play.
2 comments:
What a great perspective. While teaching children, we have been told that time out is of old school thought and redirection is what we are to use. Redirection, although it teaches conflict resolution to some respect, doesn't provide a time of renewal for the child. Maybe we should give ourselves and the little children more rest and less hurry and this will help create more balance in our lives.
Love the football analogy. Reminds me of when I heard Tony Evans at a Prophecy Conference years ago. At that time, he was the team chaplain of the Dallas Cowboys. He equated being in church to the team being in the huddle. The real excitement, and what everyone wants to see, is when the huddle breaks and the team goes forth to execute the play. People outside of the church need (and want) to see the play and we, the church, need to do the jobs God has given us and execute the play. Nobody wants to see the players remain in the huddle.
See you Sunday, David, in the huddle and then when it breaks!
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