There is little mystery why the “lineman mentality” is part

of my DNA.  The little hand-written sign in my dad’s office flashed like neon

when I walked in every day.  It read, “Don’t worry about the credit, just

get the job done!”  You just gotta love linemen.  Coaches know

that football games are won and lost in the trenches, yet to the average

fan, linemen are just over sized guys that get in the way of the running backs

and receivers.  Why would anyone WANT to be a lineman, what motivates

them?  Merlin Olsen, a Hall of Fame lineman in the NFL once said,

“Football linemen are motivated by a more complicated self-determined series

of factors than the simple fear of humiliation in the public gaze, which is the

emotion that galvanizes the backs and receivers.”  From that very statement

you can tell linemen are intelligent.  They are also tenacious, relentless and

stubborn.  With little visible reward or public recognition, they SERVE

their team.

A little of the “lineman mentality” would serve us well in

our faith journey as well.  Like Jesus’ disciples, we spend too much

time and effort trying to be the greatest.  How often are we like the

running back or receiver who upon entering the end zone, thrusts the ball in the

air and breaks into his personal version of a touchdown celebration.  Look at

me, look what I did for Jesus!  Christ said things are different in

His kingdom– greatness is defined by service.  The life of Jesus can be

summed up in two words — serve and give.  A humble King who was born

in a manger and died on a cross for you and me.  Are we worried about looking

good and receiving the credit or just getting the job done?  Are we tenacious,

relentless and stubborn when it comes to serving and sharing our love of Jesus

Christ with others?

Jesus, this serving thing is hard.  I

struggle daily with the “me first” mentality.  I confess my selfishness.  Help

me to see through Your eyes the ways I can serve my team.  I want to be consumed

to serve.  Amen.