Like 7-Eleven

The Cincinnati Bengals are 5-3 on the season with a four-game winning streak, including back-to-back wins against the Bills and 49ers. Quarterback, Joe Burrow, has been playing like himself again and his chemistry with star wide receiver, Ja'Marr Chase, has been on full display. He had ten catches, 100 yards, and a touchdown against the 49ers. In October, Chase set a single-game franchise record for catches with 15 receptions for 192 yards and three touchdowns. His tweet after the game was a picture of a 7-Eleven convenience store inferring "He's always open." 7-Eleven jumped in on the attention and has now partnered with Chase for the "Always Open x Ja'Marr Chase" collection of apparel in their official store. They are already sold out of the 7-Eleven pendant and gold chain, which Chase wears during the game! As a wide receiver, the goal is to be open all the time and available for his quarterback to throw to him. Not only is the line, "I'm like 7-Eleven, I'm always open," a great line to say, but for Chase, it tends to prove true. In our own lives, always being open for God to use us for His purposes is even more important. He utilizes us when we live with a desire to be open to His leading, guidance, and direction, and when we’re always open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we see the fruit of our obedience. Galatians 5:16 (AMP) encourages us to “…walk habitually in the Spirit , and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature .” Not only do our hearts need to be open to the Spirit’s leading, but our minds, eyes, and hands, as well. When these are always open, we're greatly rewarded by experiencing God’s work in and through us. Today, let’s each of us intentionally ask God to “Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in Your instructions” (Psalm 119:18 – NLT). Let’s also embrace Paul’s challenge in Ephesians 1:18 (GNT), “I ask that your minds may be opened to see His light, so that you will know what is the hope to which He has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings He promises His people…” Like 7-Eleven and Ja'Marr Chase, let’s always be open...open to give, serve, care, to be used by God, and to see Him for who He truly is. I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I ask that You open my eyes to see the hope You’ve given me through Jesus. I pray that my heart would be open to the Spirit’s leading and my mind would be open to understanding Your truth. I pray this in the name of Jesus, Amen.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR PACKS: 1. Is it harder to keep an open mind, heart, or hands? 2. What is the easiest of these three? 3. Has there been a time in your life when your willingness to be open resulted in something special?