The Philadelphia Eagles is an intriguing, up and coming team heading into the new season. With Carson Wentz going into his second year as quarterback, they should have a very solid season.
But even if they don’t, we know true Eagles fans will remain crazy and loyal because they love their team and live and breathe Eagles football.
The team released this Hype Video to pump up their fans and ask the question, “Are you interested? Or are you committed?”
The voiceover during this video said, “Hey, you know what we’re not interested in…people that are just interested. Nuh-uh, give me committed, committed with a capital C.
“Interested arrives on time, but you got to tell committed when to go home. Interested shines up their participation trophy while committed is putting more plates on the bar.
“Committed loves snow storms and paints everything green…committed doesn’t care where you’re from or that you’re a little rough around the edges…and most of all committed knows it’s not about just one of us, it’s about every single last one of us.”
I love this perspective when it comes to sports and being a committed fan, instead of just being interested in a team. But I love this concept even more when it comes to following Jesus.
The question, “Are you interested? Or are you committed?” is an important one to ask ourselves.
An interested sports fan shows up to games, but leaves early when their team is losing. Likewise, someone interested in Jesus may show up for church on Sunday, but they aren’t committed to following Him on Monday.
A committed follower of Jesus perseveres during the “snow storms” and isn’t ashamed to “paint everything green,” and let others know whose team they represent.
A committed follower of Jesus also doesn’t care “where you’re from or that you’re a little rough around the edges,” and loves people right where they are.
They recognize it’s “not about just one of us” and being selfish, but about sharing the Good News of Jesus until “every single last one of us” knows what He did on the cross.
Jesus isn’t inviting us into a life where we settle for just being “interested,” but is calling us to a life that is radically “committed” to following Him wherever He takes us…and doing whatever He asks us to do.
Mark 8:34 (AMP) provides a great scene where Jesus is speaking to a crowd (picture a bunch of fans) to give this powerful and challenging invitation:
“Jesus called the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, ‘If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].”
Today, let’s stop “shining our participation trophy” and choose to be committed followers of Jesus. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray today I would take up my cross and surrender to You and Your leading. Help me be totally committed to following Jesus, and stop settling for just being interested in You. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
