When we think about certain franchises as sports fans, a handful of former players come to mind. We connect legendary players to the team they experienced success with and acknowledge they are forever linked. The players and teams have a rich history together and even after players retire, we love to see them still involved and around the team. Unfortunately, all too often fractures between a player and a franchise can take place. This usually happens because of a contract dispute or a team moves on from a player before they're ready. The relationship is broken and usually, players develop bitterness and frustration toward the team they feel wronged by. Sometimes a player will finish his career on another team and when he returns to play against his former team, he’s not amicable toward the front office. However, when some time passes and after a player retires, franchises attempt to mend the relationship in the hope he'll be part of the team in some capacity. This usually requires a player to forgive the franchise and a team to show the willingness to acknowledge where they made a mistake in how they treated him. When a team and player finally reconcile, it’s cause for celebration from the fans. This situation is underway with the Detroit Lions and Hall of Fame wide receiver, Calvin Johnson, who only played for their franchise but retired early. When he did so after the 2015 season, he was forced to pay back more than $1 million to the team. This created a rift between him and the Lions, but recently the relationship has started to turn the corner. It’s a process and they haven’t fully reconciled, but Johnson has been to some practices this offseason and over the weekend, held his football camp at the Lions’ practice facility. According to ESPN.com, “Fellow Hall of Famer Warren Sapp was among the many former pros to assist at Johnson's camp Sunday. Sapp called it 'a beautiful thing whenever an organization brings back one of their signature players.'" Sapp told ESPN, "'Barry didn't end too well either up here, so it's just one of those things where we're grown now. Let's let bygones be bygones and let's just move on because it's a better and bigger purpose out there.’” I agree with Sapp and really hope Johnson and the Lions continue to take steps to make things right...with Johnson willing to forgive and move forward. Although the issues needing forgiveness in sports may not seem like a huge deal and are usually based on money, hopefully, we can use these kinds of stories to encourage and challenge us to pursue reconciliation in our own lives. Many of us have fractured relationships, strained friendships, or pent-up anger and bitterness toward someone who wronged us in the past. The reasons run the gamut and the difficulty of reconciling is based on several factors and circumstances. No, not every situation will result in reconciliation because we can’t control someone else, but as followers of Jesus, forgiveness on our end must always happen. This is possible because we are in Christ, and we’ve experienced His forgiveness, grace, and mercy. As hard as it may be to forgive someone for what they did to us, we have to let go and forgive. Colossians 3:12-13 (AMP) explains, “So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy and well-beloved , put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience ; bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive.” Mark 11:25 (NLT) adds, “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” We have to trust God to empower us with the ability to forgive and remove our anger and bitterness toward someone else. It’s too hard to do it in our own strength, but when we understand the forgiveness He continues to show us, we realize we too can forgive others. Once reconciliation is an option, we must ask God to move in ways that only He can move to soften the hearts of all parties involved so that we can experience the freedom and joy that comes from mending relationships. It requires humility, patience, and determination as we work through the process of forgiving and healing. God will get the glory and we will no longer be held back by our unforgiving heart. As Warren Sapp put it, "Let's let bygones be bygones, and let's just move on because it's a better and bigger purpose out there.” Thankfully, Jesus has made a way for us to be reconciled to God through His life, death, and resurrection and we now rest in His grace, mercy, and forgiveness toward us. In view of that truth, as we follow Jesus, let’s realize the “bigger purpose” we're a part of and be forgivers who seek reconciliation with others while also helping others be reconciled with God. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I’m so thankful to be reconciled with You. Help me reconcile with those who have hurt me or I have hurt. I pray You’d empower me to be a forgiver who doesn’t hold onto grudges or bitterness. Please bring to mind anyone I need to forgive and give me the strength to do so. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR PACKS:
1. In what ways have you experienced reconciliation in your life?
2. When have you struggled with an unwillingness to forgive someone?
3. How does your perspective change in light of God's willingness to forgive us?
Comentarios