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Writer's pictureBryce Johnson

Heading to the Bench

Carmelo Anthony began his 16th season in the NBA last night, but for the first time it started off on the bench. The 10-time All-Star is used to being a key offensive contributor and for most of his career, he was the franchise cornerstone.

However, now that his career is winding down, he decided to take a lesser role on a championship contender and joined the Houston Rockets in the offseason.

So after starting the first 1,054 games of his career, he is coming off the bench as a backup. Only Patrick Ewing (1,118 games) had more consecutive starts to begin an NBA career since 1970-71 (when starters were first tracked), according to Elias Sports Bureau (via ESPN.com).

After last night's game, Anthony said, "It's challenging mentally more so than anything, having to prepare for the game differently. Other than that, it's a challenge all the way around. It's just a matter of how I'm going to react to that challenge and accepting that challenge, which I am, which I will do."

Being a starter carries more prestige than being a backup, and with the type of career Anthony has had, this is a big change. However, he is willing to sacrifice the benefits of being a starter in order to do what is best for the team.

As Anthony adjusts to a new mindset and approach to the game, I think it’s worth considering how this scenario plays out in our own lives. What would it look like if we showed a willingness to be a “backup” and let others shine? Are we capable of letting someone else take our place in the “starting lineup?” Are we eager to sacrifice the benefits and prominence in order to put others in front of ourselves? These are tough questions to wrestle with and it truly is a challenge, but as followers of Jesus, we’re called to be a servant and place the interests of others ahead of our own. Paul writes in Philippians 2:3-4 (AMP), “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit , but with humility , regard others as more important than yourselves. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Along with being the backup and letting others “play first,” each of us has the opportunity to go to the bench so Jesus has the spotlight in our life. He’s the one who should be the starter as we place ourselves behind Him.

John the Baptist had a certain level of prestige, but he took a back seat to make sure Jesus was the one people looked to. This perspective led to the well-known verse in John 3:30 (AMP): “He must increase , but I must decrease.”

Today, let’s volunteer to "go to the bench" and allow others to take our spot in the starting lineup as we support them. Let’s also remember that as we follow Jesus, we’re behind Him…willingly sacrificing our prominence for Him to receive the glory.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I admit it’s not easy to put the interests of others ahead of my own. I pray that You would change my heart and give me the strength to show humility. I pray I would surrender each day to You, and give You authority over my life so that You increase and I decrease. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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