Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. – Romans 12:2
Roger Staubach, who led the Dallas Cowboys to Super Bowl Championships in 1971 and 1978, admitted that his position as a quarterback who didn’t call his own signals was a source of trial for him. His coach Tom Landry sent in every play. He told Roger when to pass, when to run and only in emergency situations could he change the play (and he had better be right!). Even though Roger considered coach Landry to have “a genius mind when it came to football strategy, his pride said that he should be able to run his own team.” Roger later said, “I faced up to the issue of obedience. Once I learned to obey there was harmony, fulfillment, and victory!”
Tom Landry became one of the greatest coaches of all-time, spending 29 consecutive seasons with the Cowboys, while accumulating 20 consecutive winning seasons and two Super Bowl championships.
Staubach played with the club during all 11 seasons of his football career leading the team to the Super Bowl five times, four as the starting quarterback. He was named MVP of his first Superbowl victory, and became the first of four players to win both the Heisman Trophy and a Super Bowl MVP. He was also named to the Pro Bowl six times. Obedience indeed has its benefits!
When we give our hearts to God through Jesus Christ, the Bible says that we become a new person. It’s not a physical change but a spiritual one. Jesus becomes the center of our lives from that time forward. He’s the “play caller,” as we yield ourselves to a different lifestyle, a different way of thinking, and a different game plan.
The key word transform means “to change from one form to another.” A metamorphosis takes place. Spiritually, it describes an inward renewal of our mind, through which our spirit is changed into the likeness of Christ. We become a non-conformist to the culture around us as we learn to do things God’s way and not the world’s way (or our own). We fall out of love with the kosmos and deeply in love with God (1 John 2:14-15).
Roger Staubach found out that in football it took obedience to a great coach who called all the plays to be a success. In our spiritual life the same rule applies. So who’s calling your plays? Probably best to make sure it’s the Great Coach who wrote the playbook. Maranatha!
