Color Rush Thursdays

As sports fans, we are well aware of the new marketing strategies that sports leagues roll out to receive more attention. I don’t blame them, but sometimes these promotional schemes get a little “gimmicky.” Take for example the NFL's “Color Rush Thursdays,” where each team wears all one color. During last season when the Jets wore all green against the all-red Bills, it turned out to be quite a viewing experience - especially if you happened to be colorblind. Apparently, these frustrated fans were totally confused as to which team was which. Watching this way had to have been difficult, so I wasn’t surprised when I recently read the NFL is changing the uniforms for the Color Rush games next season. To avoid the discomfort of colorblind fans, one team must be dressed in all white, while the other team must wear an allover dark color for each Thursday night game. When I think about people having trouble seeing clearly, I can’t help but wonder how many of us also struggle with spiritual blindness. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people confused about who Jesus is and how amazing His love and grace truly are. They let pride, disbelief, and other sin blind them of this life-changing truth. However, as we receive Jesus into our hearts and follow Him closely, our eyes are opened...and His power and greatness become clear to us. Paul prays in Ephesians 1:17-19 (ESV): "…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might…” Today let’s be encouraged to see God for who He really is, and not settle for confusing blindness. If we don't want to watch an NFL game when we can’t see it properly, why would we live with the eyes of our hearts closed to God’s immeasurable greatness and powerful love? Instead, let’s pray for enlightened eyes for ourselves and for others. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I praise Your matchless name. Please help me to see You and Your glory clearly. I pray I won’t be blinded, but the eyes of my heart would be enlightened to see You for who You really are. Thank You for grace through Jesus. In His powerful name, I pray, Amen.