Recently, I watched a documentary series on Netflix1 that followed three NFL quarterbacks through the 2022 season. Seeing how much work and effort these men put into their football careers was fascinating. They don’t just show up on Sunday and play a game. They prepare for hours all week long, training, studying, and even doing body maintenance.
Another thing I was fascinated by was the fact that two of the quarterbacks profess to be Christians. The show touched on it throughout. It was inspiring to see one quarterback who professed Christianity and then displayed it throughout every area of his life.
He was truly a good, godly man. He talked like a Christian. He acted like a Christian. He treated his wife and family like a man of God should. After one of the most devastating losses of his career, he drove home stunned. But the minute he walked through the door, his attention went to his kids.
He tucked them in. He read to them. He prayed with them, and they sang a worship song together. It was beautiful to see his faith in action despite his devastating loss.
Even when presented with the Bart Starr Trophy at the end of the season, he made a point of sharing his faith and the Gospel in his acceptance speech. He clearly identified as a son of God through his words and actions. I am a loyal Broncos fan, but I am also now a huge fan of this player.
The second quarterback, not so much. Sure, he pointed to heaven when he scored a touchdown and would take a knee to pray pregame. But that was all the evidence you saw of him being a Christian.
He swore like a sailor throughout the series. He was arrogant. It was all about him. His actions did not make God look good. The fruit just wasn’t there, no matter what profession he made.
Two men in the same line of work, the same lifestyle. One walked the walk, the other talked the talk.
Our 2023 theme at Mantour Ministries is It’s Who We Are. We are focusing on our true identity as God’s sons. Guys, it is not enough to claim the identity of God’s sons. Our lives and actions must show it. What we do and how we act matters.
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
(James 2:14-17 NKJV)
I like how the Message states verse 14:
Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense? (James 2:17 MSG)
Martin Luther is quoted as saying:
“A person is justified [made right with God] by faith alone but not by a faith that is alone.”
The knowledge you have obtained about who you really are and how God sees you should spur you on to more spiritual growth. It should affect every area of your life. It should change how you view life, yourself, and your walk with God. But it should also spur you into action toward a different way of living.
It should make you desire more of God and less of the world. It should cause a deeper hunger for the Word of God. You should be a more effective husband, father, son, brother, friend, and Christian.
That is why we have created this year’s daily Bible plan, It’s What We Do. Each of the 52 weekly devotionals focuses on actions that should be a part of every man of God’s life. These actions are the result of our faith. They are the thing we need to adopt in our daily life that demonstrates God living and working in us.
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