The Los Angeles Rams have been lighting up the scoreboard all season long and through the first eight weeks, they were undefeated.
Yesterday, they traveled to New Orleans and the Saints slowed them down just enough to hand the Rams their first loss. Both teams played well and they proved they are the top teams in the NFC right now, but the Saints' defensive strategy really worked out.
Defensive end Alex Okafor explained, “You can’t take away everyone; they have so many weapons. If you try to take away everyone, you’re going to take away no one. We came in saying we had to limit the run, and without even watching the game, if you look at the stat sheets, whoever had the most rushing yards was going to win the game and we knew that coming in. And that held true.”
Rams running back Todd Gurley is one of the league's best, if not the best, weapons out of the backfield. Through the first eight weeks of the season, he averaged over 143 yards from scrimmage. However, yesterday, the Saints held him to his lowest amount this year at 79 yards.
With the Rams loaded with talent, the Saints knew they couldn’t stop everyone, so their decision to focus in on ONE proved to be very effective.
This principle can translate into many areas of our lives. We can’t do everything, know everyone, make everybody happy, and give our time and money to every good cause.
Just like the Saints realized that if you "take away everyone, you’re going to take away no one,” the same is true for us when we focus on everyone or everything. Although we can easily get caught up with big goals and see the needs of everyone, we have to start with ONE.
We can make a difference in one person’s life...give our time and money to something...reach out to one friend...pray for one person...and tell someone about Jesus!
Of course, our desire is far-reaching, but when we begin by impacting ONE, it can be very effective. Even when Jesus was starting His ministry and calling His disciples to join Him, He didn’t reach out to everyone at first, but instead started with a couple of guys and then went on from there.
Matthew 4:18-22 (NIV) gives this account: "As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will send you out to fish for people.' At once they left their nets and followed Him.
"Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.”
Today, as we follow Jesus, let's be encouraged to invite others to join us...even if it means starting with ONE!
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, sometimes I get caught up in wanting to help everyone and not knowing where to start. I pray I would understand the value of impacting one person while trusting You to guide me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
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