The job of NFL scouts and general managers is to watch football. What a gig! But more than that, it’s up to them to asses the strengths and weaknesses of college football players in order to determine who their franchise should draft.

In watching individual players’ game film and seeing them perform live throughout the season, they’re able to separate out the talented players and have an idea of which ones have the best chance to succeed at the next level.

During the NFL Combine taking place this week, the evaluation process goes even a step further as players individually demonstrate their athletic abilities in front of team representatives.

What’s interesting is how some players really jump out “on film,” but there’s a discrepancy once they do the drills and measurements during the combine. Their combine numbers reveal a different story.

This causes scouts to question if a player has the necessary size and speed to make it in the NFL. They wonder if their success in college was because of a particular coaching system or they were surrounded by talented players who made them look better than they actually are.

Because of this, one of the big decisions some players have to make at the combine is whether or not to do all of the drills. Sometimes quarterbacks won’t even throw at the combine. It sounds crazy because if they really believed in their abilities and that they’re the same player seen on film, they would have no problem showcasing their skills anywhere…with anyone.

But the reality is, they’re afraid if they do throw during the combine, they might reveal certain weaknesses that didn’t show up on film and their draft stock could drop. If they’re already highly ranked, they don’t want to mess that up, so they hide behind the perception they created in college.

Plenty of people criticize the combine for being just guys running around in shorts, but that’s part of the process players must go through to help teams determine who they really are as players.

This whole concept leads me to think about truth and transparency in our own lives. Do some of us look good on “game film” or social media, but when people get to know us it’s a different story? Do we hide behind certain perceptions we’ve created for ourselves?

Do we alter our behavior or beliefs based on who we’re with? Are we hesitant to be totally honest with people for fear of them finding out our real weaknesses? Are we concerned our “stock will drop” if we let people know who we really are?

Even more important than those questions, as followers of Jesus, do we speak the truth…live out the truth…and represent Christ for who He really is?

Do we have genuine faith and an understanding of God’s Word, so we can rightly share the truth of the Gospel with others? We don’t want to mislead others by sharing anything other than the truth.

2 Corinthians 4:1-2 (TLB) says, “It is God Himself, in His mercy, who has given us this wonderful work of telling His Good News to others, and so we never give up. We do not try to trick people into believing—we are not interested in fooling anyone.

“We never try to get anyone to believe that the Bible teaches what it doesn’t. All such shameful methods we forego. We stand in the presence of God as we speak and so we tell the truth, as all who know us will agree.”

Today, let’s live transparent lives rooted in truth and grace, allowing people to know the real reason for our hope. Let’s allow others to see our weaknesses while pointing them toward the One who gives us strength. Let’s praise God for knowing who we really are and for still picking us anyway.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me for the ways I’m not open and honest with people. I confess I don’t always share the truth of the Gospel with others. Please give me the courage to do so. Help me to live in a way that is genuine and truthful. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.