The Carolina Panthers have had an impressive first half of the NFL season with a 6-2 record and an explosive offense. Last week they put up 42 points against the Bucs, and the game before that they scored 36 points against the challenging Ravens defense.
This offense has plenty of skilled options and tonight on Thursday Night Football, they have another major test as they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.
We know Cam Newton is a dynamic quarterback who can be a dangerous runner and an effective passer, but the offense has really taken off with young weapons like Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore, and Curtis Samuel making huge plays. Tight end Greg Olsen is back in the mix and Devin Funchess remains a threat at wide receiver.
It’s great to have talented players who are capable of individually producing, but the early success for the Panthers can be attributed to how they're clicking as a team and how everyone is thriving together.
Cam Newton affirmed this when he recently said, "Harmony is everything. Chemistry is everything. This may not be the best or most talented team that I’ve probably ever been on, but it’s getting up there with guys that are really meshing and linking up perfectly.”
A divided locker room doesn’t win many games, but a team with harmony can achieve extraordinary success. We know this to be true in all areas of life, but unfortunately, it’s rare to find. We’re much more likely to hear how people are divided, families are split, and even churches struggle to “mesh and link up.”
As we think about how the Panthers have found chemistry and harmony on a football team, let’s be challenged to seek this in our own lives. The Bible is clear, we’re called to live selflessly and with humility, which leads to much more cohesion with one another.
Romans 12:16-18 (NLT) provides this strong charge: "Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”
In writing to the church, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NLT), "I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.”
Today, let’s acknowledge how much fun the Panthers are having as a unified team - players blocking and sacrificing for each other and pursuing greatness side by side.
Let's look for ways to unite and pursue God’s best together...living out the challenge in Romans 14:19 (AMP): “So then, let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another .”
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please forgive me for my selfishness and pride that cause division and conflict with others. I pray I would seek Your will and desires as I interact with others and pursue unity. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
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