I think if it's one movie Sean and I enjoy watching together, I would choose "The Blind Side". What else is better than sports and a good story behind the game? We love this movie. My dad taught me a lot about the importance of every position in football. He is a long-time suffering Giants fan and my how much fun we would have with one another talking about sports. We were able to get to Giant's stadium years ago. Surprisingly, it is not the players, stadium, or even that amazing NY pretzel I miss or recall in memory at first. It is his gentle direction as each play was made. His willingness to teach me through each of the plays.
When playing contact sports, you always ensure there are no openings for the opponent to break through. This can cause a loss in points and maybe even the defeat of your favorite team. There is a phrase in the movie, "You are only as strong as your weakest link." This phrase is used a lot to help players understand the value each holds within the team. The single performance of one player can affect the entire team . I think that was quite evident all throughout this movie. But did you know that this was actually a biblical principle?
I was going through the book of Joshua. It reminded me of a few things. I promise, all of this adds up...
In Joshua chapter 7, Joshua sent some of his posse to spy on the land of Ai. They did and reported back to Joshua that the land would be a cinch to defeat. They also told him that there was no need to send all of their soldiers to conquer the land. Joshua thought he would do the smart thing and sent 3,000 of his men. Wouldn't you know, they were defeated. Joshua was taken back to hear this news. He in turn cried out to God. God basically told Joshua that this defeat was due to the sin of Achan. Yeah, he stole some goods and buried them under his tent. Why Achan, why?
The Israelites found the weakest link within the army of soldiers. Let's stress again that when a member of the team doesn't do their part, it leaves the team vulnerable for defeat. Joshua's men should have easily taken Ai. He lost all 3,000 men he sent in battle. Equipped with the power in numbers, strategy and brute strength. They did not have the one thing they needed and relied on.... God's favor.
Oh fellow brothers and sisters in-Christ, it may be tempting to bury our sin in or under our tents. We cease to acknowledge the important lesson in this story. When we position ourselves to think no one will ever find out and it won't have any affect on the team .... To put it in deeper context, I wonder how often a family is unable to get past certain roadblocks because of a buried sin in one of it's members or a church unable to grow because one of the leaders or pastors was harboring sin.
The issues we bury and refuse to deal with won't just affect the person attempting to hide or justify it. They eventually affect our team, family, spouse, classmates, co-workers...etc. Get rid of it, cling to and seek God in all of what you are going through.
Lord, please make us stronger links in our families, teams, churches and communities.... If ever there was a time for this, it is now.
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