Week 8 is coming to a close tonight with Cleveland and Cincinnati playing on Monday Night Football. As we reflect on yesterday’s games and the standings at this point, many teams like the Raiders, Rams, and Cardinals have been surprising disappointments.

We also have surprising teams winning their divisions like Seattle and Atlanta, but today I want to focus on the results across the league that shouldn’t be surprising to us.

• We shouldn’t be surprised the Minnesota Vikings are 6-1 with a five-game winning streak, considering they have a new offensive-minded head coach with a steady QB and elite offensive weapons.

• We shouldn’t be surprised that AJ Brown has taken the Philadelphia Eagles to another level and a 7-0 record, considering he’s a physically imposing wide receiver who’s very hard to guard. He’s given quarterback, Jalen Hurts, a number one target and their chemistry has been strong, as demonstrated by Brown’s three receiving touchdowns yesterday.

• On the flip side, we shouldn’t be surprised the Packers’ passing attack has been atrocious considering they traded their star wide receiver, Davante Adams, in the offseason. They failed to provide Aaron Rodgers with a proven replacement and the offense hasn’t clicked resulting in four straight losses.

• We shouldn’t be surprised the Titans keep winning when they are extremely well coached and have a running back as dominant as Derrick Henry who ran the ball for 219 yards yesterday and two touchdowns.

• I don’t think anybody is surprised that the Buffalo Bills continue to win with Josh Allen as their quarterback and their stout defense always making plays.

Surprises in sports are fun, but oftentimes the outcomes make clear sense and shouldn’t catch anyone off guard based on what teams did to structure their roster and prepare for the season.

This principle is also true in our own lives. We praise God for the exciting surprises that take place in our lives and we trust Him during the difficult seasons that we didn’t see coming.

However, there are certain outcomes or consequences that we shouldn’t be surprised by or caught off guard when we consider how we structure our lives and prepare ourselves to experience blessings and avoid dangers.

Proverbs 22:3 (NLT) tells us, “A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.”

We shouldn’t be surprised when life is filled with constant strife, considering we refuse to make the necessary adjustments God is calling us to make. We shouldn’t be surprised we are filled with worry and fear when we aren’t committed to praying and placing our trust in Him.

We shouldn’t be surprised when we feel empty and dissatisfied, considering we’ve been chasing after selfish ambitions or worldly pleasures. We shouldn’t be surprised that we’re angry all the time when we refuse to forgive someone and are hanging onto bitterness.

We shouldn’t be surprised when our marriage isn’t in sync if we don’t communicate, pray together, or be intentional with one another.

On the positive side…

We shouldn’t be surprised when we find wonderful friendships and community, considering we make the effort, put ourselves out there, and invest in relationships.

We shouldn’t be surprised when we meet genuinely joyful people when we consider their main focus is serving others.

We shouldn’t be surprised when our kids follow Jesus if we are providing them with an example.

We shouldn’t be surprised when we have peace and clarity, considering we study scripture and memorize God’s Word.

I can go on and on, but as we can see, we reap what we sow in life and The Message paraphrases this truth so plainly in Galatians 6:7-8: “Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.”

Today, let’s seek God and follow Him, as we love others and invest in what matters. And when we do, we won’t be surprised by the fruitful life we have with Christ.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray that I would fully understand the truth of reaping and sowing, and please show me the areas of my life I need to adjust. I desire to experience a fruitful and meaningful life and help me to sow into the things that will reap the best results. You have made it clear that the best life is found in You and I praise You that You guide me along the right path. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.