The men’s college basketball National Championship is tonight as UConn takes on Purdue in what should be an epic battle between two elite teams. We're coming off an exciting weekend in college basketball with two Final Fours and a National Championship as the women’s game shared (or stole) the spotlight. South Carolina finished as undefeated champions, knocking off Caitlin Clark and Iowa in a highly anticipated, intense matchup. Over the last few weeks, we've celebrated the current state of college basketball with many intriguing storylines and enjoyed the madness that March (and April) provides. Amid the enthusiasm, I can’t help but notice how fans, coaches, players, and the media are changing their mindsets about both men’s and women’s basketball. Admittedly, along with many others, I changed my mind about women’s basketball. Thankfully, I embraced watching Iowa play as I let go of previously held mindsets about the sport. I truly enjoyed what I saw and realized I was missing out. I’m glad I have a new outlook. Heading into the men’s tournament, many believed the sport was filled with parity and that we should expect countless upsets. But in the end, Purdue and UConn, two of the top teams in the last two seasons, remain standing, so should we change our minds about parity? We must also consider changing our minds when thinking basketball is more effective by playing small ball while basing an offense around the three-point shot. Although Purdue and UConn hit 3’s, they rely heavily on their big men Zach Edey and Donovan Clingan for success. South Carolina also dominated because of their size and height advantage in the paint. In a bigger context, the way NIL and the transfer portal affect college athletics, including basketball, everyone has to consider changing their minds about how programs are run and rosters are constructed. The culture of college basketball has drastically changed, causing people to consider thinking differently about the sport and acknowledging that some of the changes could destroy it, too. Wisdom is required instead of blindly accepting every change as the right thing long-term. The reality is that as much as college basketball has transformed along with the mindsets and perspectives, the foundation of the sport and what is required to win hasn't. The need for hard work, practice, discipline, teamwork, defense, and the fundamentals don’t change. So, as sports fans we can still hold onto the foundation of the sport we love and stay rooted in many of its traditions while allowing our minds to change in the right ways. As we know, change is a part of every aspect of life, and as followers of Jesus we must always ask in prayer, do I need to change my mind and perspective on this? We used to think certain things, but God wants us to renew our minds and give us a new outlook through the lens of the gospel and a Biblical worldview. Ephesians 4:21-24 (NLT) tells us, “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” The challenge we face is that the culture and the world are constantly changing while telling us to change our minds to think like them. Of course, we can adapt in certain ways to the changes in the world but we also ought to recognize that many of these changes are destructive and go against the character of God and His Word. Wisdom, discernment, and prayer are required instead of blindly accepting that every change the culture is loudly pushing is correct. Additionally, we must remember that God doesn’t change and the Truth (Jesus) remains the same. Hebrews 13:8 (ESV) says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” As followers of Jesus, He is our foundation and we must stand firm and stick to the unchanging fundamentals of our faith in God, know what the scriptures say, and live according to His will. Hebrews 10:23 (NLT) encourages us: “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” Ultimately, our minds need to change, but let’s be influenced by the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit as we align ourselves with the Truth (Jesus). At the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, we read in Matthew 4:17 (AMP): “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent , for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Today, let’s ask God to change our minds in the right ways. I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray that You will continue to renew my mind and change it to be aligned with You. Help me to stand firm in my faith and cling to the hope of the good news of Jesus Christ. It’s in His name I pray, Amen.
Comments