| Baptist Student Ministries Of SIU Edwardsville |
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“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for
you in Christ Jesus.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
It was Super Bowl 44, and there was no score on the board. The kicker in the
blue #3 jersey walked up to the line of scrimmage, ready to make history.
His name was Matt Stover, and at 42 years old, he was not only the oldest
player to play in a Super Bowl, but if he made this kick, he would become the
oldest player to ever score in the big game.
The snap came, Stover charged the pigskin, and kicked it with all the leg
strength he could muster. But before the ball either made it through the goal
posts or outside of them, Stover looked away and raised his hands in thanks
to the God that made Him, praising Him no matter if the ball made it or not.
For Matt Stover, in that crucial moment, it didn’t matter if he scored or not:
he was just thankful for God to give him the blessing to play for the
Indianapolis Colts.
What a message the Christian community can admire! Though Matt Stover’s
lifetime career of football and 19 years of pro football culminated to that
single moment, Stover had the humility to look away and praise God first,
understand that, no matter the outcome, God was in charge.
In life, we find ourselves kicking footballs towards goal posts, and instead of
praising God for being God, we clench our fists in anticipation of the result. If
it makes it, then we praise God for the outcome; if not, then we curse our luck
and move on. Yet this is not the message we get from Scripture. Instead, we
are to praise God during our darkest days, just as we do on our brightest.
Regardless of where you kick your football, thank God for His goodness. The
next time you foresee a storm coming, remember to praise God. And when
you are on the cusp of enduring a potentially life-changing moment, remember
the God who brought you to that point. We do not worship a God of outcome,
but a God of constancy.
As for that Sunday night in Miami, after he praised God for His divine
blessings, Matt Stover looked over to see if his ball made it through the goal
posts or not. The scoreboard read 0 – 3; Matt Stover just became the oldest
player to ever score in the Super Bowl, thanks be to God.
Nathan Geist (SIUE ’09)
linkamo@comcast.net
you in Christ Jesus.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
It was Super Bowl 44, and there was no score on the board. The kicker in the
blue #3 jersey walked up to the line of scrimmage, ready to make history.
His name was Matt Stover, and at 42 years old, he was not only the oldest
player to play in a Super Bowl, but if he made this kick, he would become the
oldest player to ever score in the big game.
The snap came, Stover charged the pigskin, and kicked it with all the leg
strength he could muster. But before the ball either made it through the goal
posts or outside of them, Stover looked away and raised his hands in thanks
to the God that made Him, praising Him no matter if the ball made it or not.
For Matt Stover, in that crucial moment, it didn’t matter if he scored or not:
he was just thankful for God to give him the blessing to play for the
Indianapolis Colts.
What a message the Christian community can admire! Though Matt Stover’s
lifetime career of football and 19 years of pro football culminated to that
single moment, Stover had the humility to look away and praise God first,
understand that, no matter the outcome, God was in charge.
In life, we find ourselves kicking footballs towards goal posts, and instead of
praising God for being God, we clench our fists in anticipation of the result. If
it makes it, then we praise God for the outcome; if not, then we curse our luck
and move on. Yet this is not the message we get from Scripture. Instead, we
are to praise God during our darkest days, just as we do on our brightest.
Regardless of where you kick your football, thank God for His goodness. The
next time you foresee a storm coming, remember to praise God. And when
you are on the cusp of enduring a potentially life-changing moment, remember
the God who brought you to that point. We do not worship a God of outcome,
but a God of constancy.
As for that Sunday night in Miami, after he praised God for His divine
blessings, Matt Stover looked over to see if his ball made it through the goal
posts or not. The scoreboard read 0 – 3; Matt Stover just became the oldest
player to ever score in the Super Bowl, thanks be to God.
Nathan Geist (SIUE ’09)
linkamo@comcast.net
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Today's Devotional
| You Can’t “Go For the Win” When You’ve Already Won |