Throughout the first two rounds of this year’s NCAA Tournament, some key players found themselves in foul trouble. Picking up a few quick fouls early in the game made it difficult to play at their best the rest of the way. Some games were so physical that both teams were called for fouls at an alarming rate which slowed down and made the game sloppy. So what leads to a player being called for a foul? I think most commonly it occurs when a defender is out of position and not where he needs to be. This allows the opponent to take advantage and draw the foul. Other times it’s because a player is lazy and playing casual defense or unwilling to move his feet, which results in a cheap foul. On the flip side, sometimes a player is way too aggressive and uses his hands or body with too much physicality. A defender will even try to hold a shooter back by grabbing his arm, preventing him from getting to the ball, which is also a foul. A player can be called for offensive fouls when trying to attack the rim by running guys over. Or, he can hear the whistle when using his arm to push the defender away. This is an attempt to keep other players at arm’s length while shoving them in the wrong way. Setting picks or screens on offense is a successful strategy, as well, but when the player isn’t set and moves his feet instead of holding his ground, he’s quickly called for a foul. As fans, it’s frustrating to watch our favorite team struggling with foul trouble, but when our team plays the right way and avoids fouling we know they have a better opportunity to win. When it comes to our own lives, there are parallels to how we can find ourselves in “foul trouble” and ways to avoid it. Sometimes we end up out of position and not where we need to be, which allows our opponent to take advantage. As followers of Jesus, we must remain in the right spot, which means we’re connected to Him. Jesus tells us in John 15:4-5 (AMP), “Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” When it comes to sin and temptation, we have to be careful not to have a lazy or casual defense that will get us into “foul trouble.” We can’t just stand still when temptation arises. Instead, we have to be willing to "move our feet." 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT) says, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” As we interact with others each day, sometimes we can allow anger or too much aggressiveness to “foul” and “run over” other people. By doing so we might actually “hold them back” from pursuing Jesus because of how we’ve treated them. We must avoid that kind of “foul trouble” by yielding to the Holy Spirit within us so we can experience the fruit described in Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV): “...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” For others of us, we have been keeping God at “arm’s length” but it’s time we "blow the whistle" and stop “shoving” Him away. James 4:8 (NLT) instructs us to “Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.” Lastly, just like a basketball team needs to stand firm and set good picks on offense, we too need to hold our ground instead of sliding around and ending up in “foul trouble.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV) gives us this encouraging command: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” Struggling with “foul trouble” can be frustrating, but today let’s experience God’s grace and remember when we “play the right way and avoid fouling,” we know we have a better opportunity to win! I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess that at times I'm out of position and not in the right place. Thank you for Your grace and Your willingness to draw near to me. I'm so grateful I can remain in You and live by the Spirit and experience fruit. Please help me to love well and point people to You. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR PACKS:
1. In what ways have you experienced "foul trouble?" 2. Which of today's verses encourage and convict you the most?
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