This week has been tough for many NFL head coaches as they found out they were fired after the franchise decided to go in a different direction. Some firings were expected, like Matt Nagy in Chicago, and others were surprising, like Brian Flores in Miami.
While these moves are being made and new people are hired to take over, it’s critical that the owner, general manager, and head coach are all on the same page.
They must have similar philosophies and a desire to head in the same direction as a franchise and also communicate like-minded messages.
From a player’s perspective, the head coach is the one they are being led by day in day out. Success for teams happens when players listen to their head coach and allow themselves to be led by him.
The head coach is the one teaching and explaining what the players need to do, reminding them how they need to act on and off the field, and directing them toward ways they can overcome the schemes of their opponents.
The head coach must be in sync with the owner and general manager and be their voice to the players. It’s up to the players to follow him or not.
I believe we can find some similarities to the way God operates and how we respond. God is triune, which means He is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Being One, they are on the same page, connected, and in sync.
Before Jesus returned to Heaven, He explained to the disciples in John 14:26 (NLT), “But when the Father sends the Advocate as My representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”
As followers of Jesus, we have been given the Holy Spirit to be our “head coach” in the sense that He is there to lead and guide us. He’s the one explaining what we need to do, reminding us how to act, and directing us toward ways we can overcome the schemes of our opponents. It’s up to us to follow His promptings or not.
Just like players must submit to the leadership of their head coach instead of choosing their own selfish ways, we must submit to the Holy Spirit’s leading in our own lives instead of our sinful and selfish nature.
The Bible says in Romans 8:12-14 (AMP), “So then, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but not to our flesh [our human nature, our worldliness, our sinful capacity], to live according to the [impulses of the] flesh [our nature without the Holy Spirit]—for if you are living according to the [impulses of the] flesh, you are going to die.
“But if [you are living] by the [power of the Holy] Spirit you are habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, you will [really] live forever. For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
Today, we must decide who we want to be led by. Does our current “head coach” need to be fired so we can allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit of God?
Knowing that God’s Holy Spirit leads us into truth…peace…joy…and life everlasting, let’s yield to His direction today!
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me the Holy Spirit to lead and guide me. Help me not to live according to my flesh or the world, but rather Your Spirit that’s within me. Teach me to discern what You’re prompting me to do. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
-
How would you explain the difference between following the leading of the Holy Spirit and following your own way?
-
What areas of your life do you need to yield more to the Spirit?
