The NFL season is quickly approaching, and one of the more intriguing teams is the New York Jets. After Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending injury in week one last year, the team hopes he bounces back to lead them to the playoffs.
He is critical to their success this season but can’t do it alone. As a Super Bowl-winning quarterback heading into his 20th NFL season, he knows what it takes to win and is helping his teammates understand what it means to maximize their abilities and play at a high level.
In an article on ProFootballTalk.com with the headline, “Aaron Rodgers is Pushing His Teammates to Perform at a High Level,” Mike Florio writes, “The best quarterbacks not only play at a high level but also hold their teammates fiercely accountable to do the same. It’s one thing to hear it from the coaches. It’s another to hear it from someone who’s out there, putting in the work….Rodgers is trying to make everyone around him want to get the absolute most out of what they have.”
Rodgers could only worry about himself and stay quiet when he sees a teammate doing something wrong, but instead, he shares what he sees and speaks up based on what he knows to be true about winning football.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh recently said about Rodgers’ leadership: “I’ve heard stories of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady — not to compare them — but it’s the same thing. The expectation and the standard is high. As a quarterback, he’s trying to operate at a certain level of efficiency, which means people around him need to be efficient at the same level. When he’s not feeling that as a group’s leader and voice, he voices his opinion.”
As Aaron Rodgers holds his teammates to a high standard of excellence and calls them out when they fall short, hopefully, they’ll do the same for him. Successful teams push each other, encourage one another, maximize their talent, and point out anything holding them back.
As followers of Jesus, we aren’t on this journey alone. We have “teammates” and need to push each other to live at a “high level” or in a way that is holy and pleasing to God.
Romans 14:19 (AMP) tells us, “So then, let us pursue [with enthusiasm] the things which make for peace and the building up of one another [things which lead to spiritual growth].”
Similarly to elite quarterbacks, in our own lives, we “not only live at a high level but also hold our teammates fiercely accountable to do the same.”
Hebrews 3:13 (NLT) tells us, “You must warn each other every day, while it is still ‘today,’ so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.”
Regarding our “teammates” or other followers of Jesus, we must humbly speak up, encourage each other, and point out anything holding someone back.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT) states, “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:14 (AMP) says, “We [earnestly] urge you, believers, admonish those who are out of line [the undisciplined, the unruly, the disorderly], encourage the timid [who lack spiritual courage], help the [spiritually] weak, be very patient with everyone [always controlling your temper].”
Today, as followers of Jesus, let’s remember we’re called to a high standard. By God’s grace and power, let’s help each other live that out. Let’s leverage our experience and understanding of God’s truth to invest in our “teammates'” lives so we can succeed together.
Proverbs 27:17 (AMP) explains, “As iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens [and influences] another[through discussion].”
Let’s help each other grow in spiritual maturity, strengthen our faith, and maximize the gifts God has given us. We must remember to do so with patience, grace, and love with our eyes fixed on Jesus.
I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please give me discernment to know when and how to speak up. Show me the best ways to experience accountability with other believers and help me lovingly encourage others to keep growing and pursuing You. Please help me be willing to listen to encouragement and correction as well. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
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