Every year during NFL training camp, we hear about fights taking place among players on the same team – usually between offense and defense.
The Tampa Bay Bucs had an incident during their first day in full pads and a couple of guys got kicked out, including guard Caleb Benenoch. Head coach Dirk Koetter said, "Caleb's a guy that's played for us and he's in a little competition right now, but everybody's in competition. He's doing fine."
Sometimes there's an understanding or expectation or justification for these types of fights. The weather is hot and players are going at each other every day trying to prove themselves. Considering the level of physicality involved with football, it's no wonder they get under each other's skin.
However, lines can’t be crossed and like Koetter explained, "You like the aggression, but you can't swing. You can't swing or you get kicked out."
Even though a team can become stronger following a conflict, a coach still desires for his players to keep their cool and maintain poise. The reality is, fighting with teammates can quickly create division within a locker room and stir up unnecessary tension if not dealt with.
By solving issues between players and not letting the frustration fester, the team can stay focused on heading in the same direction and attaining greater success. Players must work through their differences and make the effort to get on the same page for the sake of the team.
The same is true in our own lives. We aren’t immune to experiencing fights within churches, families, businesses, and friendships. Despite the fact that we should be on the same page, with a mindset that desires unity and impact, even followers of Jesus experience tension and attacks that infiltrate our own “locker room.”
Competition often causes us to have pride, selfishness, bitterness, and jealousy which can then quickly result in fighting with our own teammates or fellow believers.
But, the Bible makes it clear in 1 John 4:20-21 (NLT): “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And He has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.”
Although conflict is inevitable as imperfect people in need of a Savior, if we understand what loving God really means, we will love His people too.
Because of that love, our desire becomes peace, humility, unity, understanding...and ultimately, resolution to the fighting. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me for not always loving You and others the way I should. Please guide me as I desire to seek unity and peace with other believers. I pray I wouldn’t fight with others because of my own pride or jealousy, but instead seek to be on the same page in order to have more impact for You. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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