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Matthew 12:48-49: He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers.

 

I coach my children's basketball team.  Over the last 3 years the Lord has blessed me with all wins, every game except one when we didn't have enough players. My focus is always on the team, and the unity of the team. 

This year however, I have a lot of leaders on the team who seem to want all the glory and not so interested in the team. We have a small team, very small but quick.  I went right to work with setting up plays and working toward the mechanics of winning. We have more than enough talent to win, yet for some reason we lost our first two games. 

Very frustrated, I started looking up plays, and strategies to win. The Lord stopped me in mid search and told me to listen to Him. He led me in a series of unifying drills having very little to do with skill. 

The next practice, the Lord led me to pair up kids who didn't know each other before the season. As they passed the ball to each other they had to tell me five things about the other person that I didn't know already. He had me ask everyone what they wanted to see out of playing this year. The responses shocked me completely. Eighty percent were there to have fun, ten percent were there to learn something, and another ten percent wanted to take more shots. 

So the Lord had me shift from my focus of winning, ( which I assumed what everyone wanted) to an atmosphere of unity, team, and fun. 

The result was in that week, our team beat the best team in the league by thirty points! 

The reason this was accomplished is that each player was playing for their teammates.  They were playing for their brother and sister and focused on the unity of the team.

With Jesus, when we see ourselves as His brother, sister, loved one, there is nothing that cannot be accomplished, ever. You see, when we know what the desire of our heart is, express them to Jesus, He will surround us with others who have the same desire. You may already be surrounded by those who you can call your brother, sister, mother, loved ones, even if you don't get along with them this moment. You see, when we go to work, or church, or a sports league, the Lord puts you around the people there for His purpose and for your good. 

If work or play becomes mechanical and stale, look to learn more about who others are and what their hearts are for. You may find that you have a similar desire. When you have Jesus in the middle of any situation, there is truly nothing stopping you in this life. His grace extends beyond the forgiveness of sins, and into the abundant life He promised to bring to us. His grace can change a mechanical cold discipline like the law, into the beauty and victory His grace. Trust in Jesus, learn more about who your brothers, sisters, mother's are, and know that with those people, and with Jesus in the center of it, you will change the world.