Ambassador of Christ in the Americas

Here is an excellent reflection by my dear friend, Tristan Block. 

In his early career as a hockey player, Stan Mikita was one of the most penalized players in the National Hockey League. His fighting and cheap shots continued on until his eight-year-old daughter asked a very grown-up question. “Daddy, how can you score goals when you’re always sitting in the penalty box?” Stan Mikita was putting himself, his team, his career and his character at a disadvantage by playing dirty.

The apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Are you living this life using the weapons of the world? Do you find yourself shouting in fits of anger? Do you flex your muscles (literally or figuratively) to show who’s boss? Do you manipulate and twist the truth to get your way? Using these weapons of mass destruction will certainly land a follower of Christ in the penalty box. Furthermore, they will crush relationships and ultimately the ability to shine the light of Jesus before others, especially your spouse and children.

On the contrary, as authentic Christians, we are given weapons by God himself. They look very unusual to the world. When the world wants to shout in anger, the Christian speaks in gentleness. When the world wants to flex its muscles, the Christian stoops down to wash feet. When the world wants to manipulate, the Christian puts the needs of others before the needs of self. A Christian lives out love even when it is not reciprocated. Beloved, those are the weapons of divine power! They break down barriers in relationships. They form new relationships. They show the love and gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone who sees it in action...but not if you’re in the penalty box.

Stan Mikita retired with several seasons as lead scorer in the league, including tying the all time scoring record for a single season. But more than this, Mikita got out of the penalty box and received the Lady Byng Memorial trophy for sportsman like conduct, the Hart Memorial trophy for the player most valuable to his team and the Art Ross trophy for leading the league in scoring points. Even more impressive is that Mikita was awarded all of these in the same season! It never would have happened if he had remained in the penalty box.

What advantage or disadvantage are you putting yourself in? In your home do you fight with the weapons of the world? How about in your work place? It’s time to set aside the weapons of the world and live with divine power given from God! When we do that, others will take notice and give praise to God our Father!