Are You On The Bench?

Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle. – Psalm 144:1 
 
Whenever I go to watch a football game, I notice that there are typically three kinds of players on the football team. First of all, there are the players on the field who are engaged in the battle. They are doing everything that they have been trained to do. They received the jersey, and they have spent hours and hours running plays and practicing. They have been working on blocking, tackling, catching the ball, kicking the ball, running it down the field; and generally working together as a team. Now, they are out there on the field together. 
 
Second, there is a group of players right there on the sidelines with the coaches. It seems like everywhere the head coach goes, a player follows. There are all the different coaches and all kinds of players; they are right there on the sidelines. They are intently watching the game; they are engaged and they are looking to be sent into the game. They can't wait to be sent in and they are walking the sidelines with the coaches. They want to make sure the coaches see them and that they are ready to go in. 
 
Finally, there is another group. This is a group of players who have the right jersey. These players have been training; they have been on the practice field and they know the plays. They are ready, but they are on the bench. Have you ever watched many of those on the bench? They aren’t even watching the field! They are not even engaged in the game. They are often talking to each other, laughing, and telling jokes. They are talking about what's going on in their life. They are there, but they aren’t really there!   
 
Have you felt like you’ve been on the bench when it comes to your faith? You know Christ and you have been following Him for some time. You know the plays, but you are sitting on the bench, and you are not completely engaged. If that’s true for you, I pray that you would allow the Spirit of God to speak to you today because He has a plan for your life. He wants you to be fully engaged, ready for Him to use for His Kingdom's work. This is not the time for any believer to sit on the bench. It is time to get up and play the game!