It’s still hard to comprehend that yesterday the Miami Dolphins scored 70 points and gained more than 700 yards (726) in one game to become the first team in NFL history to do so. The Dolphins dominated the Denver Broncos 70-20 and moved to 3-0 on the season. For those of us who love scoring in football, this was a dream. All of the offensive weapons put up monster numbers seemingly scoring a touchdown every time they touched the ball. As impressive as the running backs and wide receivers were, quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, is the key to this team. He threw four touchdowns for 309 passing yards and no interceptions. Tua is a young NFL quarterback and after last season’s injuries, there were plenty of question marks about his future and how far he could take the Dolphins. It’s only September, but we're all taking notice of him and the Dolphins after Sunday's performance. Following the game, Dolphins head coach, Mike McDaniel, spoke highly about his QB. What especially caught my attention was his comment, “...He's like the most coachable, best learner that I've ever been around…Everything that happens, you guys — have you heard adversity is an opportunity? Yeah. Well, that's how he looks at it.” When talking about Tua learning every week, he gave the example of him throwing an interception in the game against the Patriots, but this week he made a better decision on a similar play. Instead of throwing the ball into tight coverage, he successfully threw it to the open running back. McDaniel went on to say, “It’s hard to get better continually because it’s exhausting and you just want to feel like ‘man I've arrived.’ That’s not him. That’s why we’ll continue to see a better version of him as he progresses.” Last year, Tua had some scary moments on the field following some tough hits and hard falls to the ground. This led the Dolphins to teach him jiu-jitsu techniques in the offseason so he could learn to fall differently. In an article on TheAthletic.com, Zak Keefer writes how Tagovailoa was willing to try anything to keep himself on the field: “Thus he was in jiu-jitsu class every Friday during the offseason, retraining his body to fall in ways that better protect his head. He repped from every conceivable position, mimicking being tackled from straight on, from the blind side, high, low.” He added, “Tagovailoa wanted to turn devastating falls into more routine falls. If he could retrain his body to respond differently in those critical moments, he’d at least have a chance.” Whether Tua is getting better as a passer or taking hits differently, he's clearly showing his willingness to be a learner. What about us? Do we learn from mistakes? Do we view adversity as an opportunity to learn? Do we learn from coaches? Do we learn from studying? Do we learn from asking questions? Do we learn from God’s Word? Are we learners or do we think “we’ve arrived” and have all the answers? Proverbs 12:15 (ESV) tells us, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” Proverbs 10:17 (AMP) explains, “He who learns from instruction and correction is on the path of life , But he who ignores and refuses correction goes off course .” Instead of being prideful or foolish, we should desire to “get better continually” and always be learning. Proverbs 18:15 (NLT) says, “Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge.” Proverbs 9:9 (ESV) states, “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.” Most importantly, we learn to live the right way and “get better continually” when we learn the ways of Jesus and learn to become more like Him from Him. (And unlike becoming a better QB, thankfully, it’s not exhausting!) Jesus says in Matthew 11:29 (AMP), “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me , for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls.” 1 John 2:6 (NLT) also says, “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” Today, let’s be encouraged to learn God’s Word and be eager to learn what it means to follow Jesus in every area of our lives. When we do, we’ll progress into becoming a “better version” of ourselves because we're more like Him. Also, as we earnestly seek God, adversity becomes another opportunity for us to grow and learn. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for teaching me and showing me through Jesus how to live and become who You created me to be. I pray that I will always be a learner, hungry to know You more, and grow in wisdom and knowledge when it comes to the best way to live according to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray Amen.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR PACKS:
1. In what ways are you a learner and in what ways is it a struggle? 2. Why is it so important for us to not have the mindset that "we've arrived" and have nothing left to learn?
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