We Are The Receivers, God Is Our Quarterback
The pro football season is winding down. Teams that have a shot at making the NFL playoffs and, hopefully, the Super Bowl, know they must have a 1-2 punch — they need a good quarterback and some good wide receivers. That’s because, no matter how good the team is, if the players have no confidence in their quarterback, and the wide receivers can’t catch the ball, the team is gonna lose.
What does all this have to do with Advent and Christmas? I’m glad you asked. Wide receivers are essential to a winning team. The receivers must have complete confidence in their Quarterback. When a play is called, they must run the correct route so that they will be in the right place at the right time to receive the football. Timing is everything: If you’re off a few feet or a second late, you’re gonna miss the pass. As a receiver, you expect to get hit hard and knocked down by those players determined to keep you from catching the ball. A good receiver must stay focused on catching the football — and not on those players rushing to take you down. If you lose your concentration, even for one second, you will either drop the ball or miss it entirely. Once you catch the football, you drive for the goal line because your objective is to score a touchdown. A good receivers shows that determination to keep on driving until you’ve gone as far as you possibly can. Once you’ve crossed the goal line, you and the whole team celebrate!
That’s what Advent is all about!
We, as Christians, have been chosen to play on God’s Team: He is our Divine Quarterback and we are the receivers.
We fully trust our Quarterback to call the right play; for He understands how the game of life is to be played, and He knows exactly what it takes to win. As He calls the plays, He directs us so that we will be in the right place at the right time – in order to receive what He has for us. The shepherds and the wise men were in the right place at the appointed time – and they received God’s wondrous gift. So, during Advent, God will lead us to be in the right place at the right time to receive His Christmas Blessing.
As Christians, we can expect extremely stiff opposition from Satan and his demons. They will do all in their power to keep us from receiving God’s precious gift. We must stay focused on what is truly important -— the birth of Christ Jesus, Emmanuel, God-with-us-inthe-flesh, King and Lord and Redeemer and Savior, the light of the world and the light of our lives.
Once we’ve received God’s gracious gift, we have to do something about it. The shepherds shared the good news with everyone they could: They became more loving and caring, they were more aware of the needs of those around them, they ‘saw’ people in a new light. The wise men told the story of the Christ wherever they went: They became more kind and gracious, their generosity became legend, they promoted peace, they instilled hope in others. So it should be with us.
Once we have found the Christ, we are obligated to do something about it. Advent is the season for us to receive God’s gift and strive for the goal of becoming more and more like the Christ in our daily living.
Finally, we look forward to crossing that Heavenly goal line and celebrating with all of God’s saints — for love will win out, right will triumph, peace will reign, joy will shout out loud, and hope will blossom like the Christmas rose.