How to Be a Happy Sportsperson: Game DaySample

The accepted wisdom of experienced sportspeople is that you should not get involved in other people’s mess. If a conflict occurs between two players on a team or between the other athlete and a coach, keep out of it. Don't rock the boat. Otherwise, you might get caught up in the whole problem and spoil your selection prospects. Take care of your interests since it's already hard enough to keep yourself fit, in good form and in the manager's good books.

This common outlook does not align with Jesus' perspective when he says that happiness is found by being a “peacemaker”. However, Jesus is talking about something very profound; it is the spiritual power to be brave enough to seek a resolution to the conflict, regardless of the cost to yourself.

Remember that Jesus says that Christian disciples are humble and sad at their rebellion against God. The turning point in life is that by trusting that Jesus Christ died as your substitute to take the punishment you deserve for your animosity towards God, you receive a new start. The results of a new life in Christ are remarkable; these are what we’ve been looking at in this series.

Having been saved by Christ, you find yourself being less prone to take revenge. You become increasingly able to avoid the hypocrisy of talking behind others’ backs. And then, says Jesus, you become a peacemaker. You become less concerned about your interests and more about the interests of others and the welfare of your whole club or team. You become selfless and brave, prepared to forfeit the protection of your interests for the sake of the group.

Jesus tells his disciples that this God-initiated development of this servant-hearted character leads to your becoming “children of God”. You become increasingly like Jesus Christ, the definitive peacemaker who was less concerned with his own interests than he was with bringing reconciliation between us and God by going to the cross on our behalf.

As you approach today, you will be aware of tensions and disagreements at your club or team. You will know of the clashes that undermine team integrity. How about doing your best to serve them today in two ways?

First, play as well as you possibly can. Do your job to the very best of your ability. Compete with all your energy and skill.

Secondly, be prepared to do whatever it costs to deal with the conflicts and seek genuine resolutions. Don’t worry about the cost to yourself. Be authentic. Seek the correct answer.

You are a child of God, and he has put you there today to find happiness in being a peacemaker, regardless of your performance or the result.

Pray for yourself

Dear Father, Thank you that because of the work of Jesus, I am your child. Thank you that you made peace between us through his work on the cross and resurrection. Help me now, in light of that, to be a peacemaker within my sport. Prepare me today and in the coming weeks to be someone who seeks to resolve conflict when it naturally comes. Thank you for the assurance in my identity I have as your child that I can find joy and security in that status regardless of what is happening within my club or team. In your name, Amen.

Pray for your friends.

Finally, take a few minutes to pray for your sports friends and colleagues - that God will open a door for his message in your club or team.