Please welcome my son, Cooper Riley Isaac, to The Lemonade Stand this week. Cooper is starting his third year at Bluffton University, majoring in nursing, and has a desire to be a psychiatric nurse. His love for family keeps him close to home, but he does love the adventure of travel. His bucket list is not for the faint of heart. He enjoys being with people-especially when they make him laugh, playing daredevil basketball, and reading. Jesus is his number one priority! Cooper reflects his late Dad, Howard, in personality, wisdom, humor, easygoing nature, and love of Jesus. Please enjoy Coop's insight into being a role player on God's team.
Sometimes, people work hard to be the star player. They want to live their lives the way Lebron lives on the basketball court – as the superstar.
In life, you can choose to do that. You can work to be the star player, and gain everything you think you want. The price is high. Often, the price is regret because in the desire to have all that you want, you deceive others. You lie to people. You make people think that you are someone whom you are not. You get what you want, but there are many causalities along the way, sometimes it is people and sometimes it is your soul. It is no longer moved by the heart of God; it is calloused, focused on just you.
“For even if you were to gain all the wealth and power of this world with everything it could offer you—at the cost of your own life—what good would that be? And what could be more valuable to you than your own soul?” Matthew 16:26 TPT
What could be more valuable to you than your own soul? The answer is nothing. Nothing could be more valuable than your own soul. When we choose to say that we love God, God expects our souls to prove their value demonstrated by the actions of our lives.
Living for God means that we have got to be the best at playing our role. I think of Detroit Piston Derrick Rose. At the age of 31, Rose is no longer in the prime of his basketball career but his ability to prove being a solid member of the team is well-noted when the crowd chants “MVP” upon his entrance to the court. It has not happened only once; it has happened over and over and over. Changing teams, defeat, maturity, injury -- it has not changed his approach to the game. What he said was important to him as a young player remains important to him today. His actions on the court back up those words.
No matter where Rose has played, he has been recognized as an MVP because of the way that he plays his role. He knows his job, and he gets his job done. He is not worried about being the star and losing the game. He is worried about the value of the team.
Life feels dark at times. There is a lot going on in our country, and a lot of us have a lot of hard stuff in our lives. Just don't give up what is hard in exchange for what is easy. It might cost you your soul. When you are going through a hard time or a trial, stay strong. Claw, kick, punch your way back to God. Do not forfeit the only true value of life – your soul. Don't exchange what is painful for what is laughable. Do not fight alone. Find your team of people who have practiced and achieved MVP status in playing their roles.
We need to realize that every moment counts. Every day is important. Every action reflects who we really are. Our words can say one thing but our actions prove the truth. Don't hide a bankrupt soul that will cost you your life in eternity.
Join God’s team, play your role, and then, the Gospel of Jesus can spread. Not only can people hear the Gospel, they will be able to watch it as you live your role with MVP status.
“Look at the obvious fruit of their lives and ministries, and then you’ll know whether they are true or false. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, ‘Lord,’ will enter into the realm of heaven’s kingdom. It is only those who persist in doing the will of my heavenly Father. Matthew 7:20-21 TPT
Philippians 4:12-13 “I know what it means to lack, and I know what it means to experience overwhelming abundance. For I am trained in the secret of overcoming all things, whether in fullness or in hunger. And I find that the strength of Christ’s explosive power infuses me to conquer every difficulty.”
Do not be a Lebron and fight alone. We are all role players in God’s plans with assigned positions. You just cannot do it on your own. My sisters are two of the MVPs in my life. They remind me of what is important, the value of character, doing what is right even when it is hard and I try to do the same for them.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”
My Dad used to say, “The only failure in falling down is staying down.” Listen, it is okay if we need someone to help us get back up! Being independent is celebrated, and having a need for someone….well, that is just weak. It takes great strength to ask for, and then allow, someone to help you.
Whatever you are going through, let your team help you. I know I already said it, but we are all just role players in God’s plan. One needs at least two supporting him. Fight for your brothers and sisters in Christ, and then stick together. There will be sacrifices, but everyone is worth it. It is the value of the soul! Focus on what is most important, play your role, and enjoy the game.
Take a minute and respond by reminding yourself of these words from the Apostle Paul.
35 Who could ever separate us from the endless love of God’s Anointed One? Absolutely no one! For nothing in the universe has the power to diminish his love toward us. Troubles, pressures, and problems are unable to come between us and heaven’s love. What about persecutions, deprivations,[a] dangers, and death threats? No, for they are all impotent to hinder omnipotent love,
36 even though it is written: All day long we face death threats for your sake, God. We are considered to be nothing more than sheep to be slaughtered!
37 Yet even in the midst of all these things, we triumph over them all, for God has made us to be more than conquerors, and his demonstrated love is our glorious victory over everything!
38 So now I live with the confidence that there is nothing in the universe with the power to separate us from God’s love. I’m convinced that his love will triumph over death, life’s troubles, fallen angels, or dark rulers in the heavens. There is nothing in our present or future circumstances that can weaken his love.
39 There is no power above us or beneath us—no power that could ever be found in the universe that can distance us from God’s passionate love, which is lavished upon us through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! Romans 8:35-39 TPT
Thanks for sharing this Cooper.
Good reminders to keep us keeping each other accountable to God and always working and loving as a team.
Also never forgetting that absolutely nothing can ever separate us from God’s Love.
Keep serving and sharing.🙏