I am fascinated by the way NBA general managers put together a roster and navigate through all the complications of a salary cap. There are max contracts, rookie deals, qualifying offers, the stretch provision, restricted free agents, and unrestricted free agents.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been especially active making moves. Ever since Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka took over the front office, they've been completely revamping their roster.
They’ve traded away bad contracts, cleared cap space, drafted productive players, and ultimately signed LeBron James. In addition, other players have been added during free agency, including Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson, and JaVale McGee.
In order for the Lakers to have room on their roster and enough money to pay them, they've been forced to get rid of some existing players and have had to pass on opportunities to sign them.
One of the tougher moves they've had to make was renouncing their rights to former first-round draft pick Julius Randle. Although they drafted and developed him, he was set to receive a larger contract as a restricted free agent and they weren’t willing to commit to him.
After being renounced he became an unrestricted free agent and signed with the New Orleans Pelicans.
The definition of renounce means to “formally declare one’s abandonment of possession” and “refuse to recognize or abide by any longer” and “declare that one will no longer engage in or support.”
Synonyms include reject, deny, abandon, wash one’s hands, give up, refrain from, and spurn.
As we unpack what took place between the Lakers and Randle, we can gain a greater understanding of the process involved between us and sin.
When we surrender our lives to Jesus and follow Him each day, we renounce our rights to our old life and formally declare our abandonment from the pursuit of evil.
We reject the world’s ways...give up on trying to do things in our own strength...and refrain from selfish pleasures.
Colossians 3:5 (NLT) encourages us to take these drastic measures:
“So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.”
James 4:7 (NLT) simply says, “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
When we receive salvation and a new life abiding in Jesus, we become God’s children and no longer possessed by the devil. We spurn and deny him and no longer engage in our former way of life.
Today, let’s continue to renounce sin and embrace the wonderful freedom we now have in Christ. I’m Bryce Johnson and you canunpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank you that I can leave my old life behind and abide in You. I pray You’d help me continue to resist sin and reject evil. Thank you for cleansing me and freeing me with Your grace. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
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