Under new management

Photo credit: www.managingamericans.com

Louis Van Gaal in, Jose Mourinho out, the collective sigh of relief can be heard all over the globe after the noise of jubilant Manutd supporters has died down. A record equalling FA Cup triumph was not enough to save the Dutchman’s job and in truth, it never looked like being. The writing had been on the wall for sometime. Fans had grown tired of the sterile football, the failure to challenge for the league, the profligate use of the 200 million transfer kitty amongst others. LVG had to be shown the exit door.

Step in, Jose Mourinho and it remains to be seen if he will suffer the same fate as his predecessor.  A lot of Manutd fans have wondered why this decision took an eternity to arrive. The embarrassing defeats and the ponderous football had fans crying out for a change. A lot of players are playing nowhere near to their potential so they must share in the blame. However, these players play under the manager’s instructions, thus he is culpable.  Why did the United hierarchy hold on to Van Gaal for so long when it was obvious that he would not fulfill the lofty expectations set of him?

I think God asks me a similar question. Why do I hold on to the throne of my life and watch as another sterile performance in life pans out? Why I am content with my managing yet it only produces mediocre results when if I let go to the rightful manager, Jesus, the vibrant, swashbuckling and fruitful performance will be there for all to see.

Jesus is the rightful LORD, or in this case, Manager. He is the de facto boss, the gaffer. When I persist in assuming his role , all I succeed in doing is floundering, floundering greatly under the guise of doing ok.

Like the United under Van Gaal, having more possession of the ball was considered domination. Forget that most of that possession was mostly sideways passing, ineffective and downright boring to watch. It was considered domination. Almost no attacking thrust, or penetration, Mostly it was just playing safe, not wanting to lose. I see close similarities with my philosophy.

All I succeed in doing is dominating possession, being easy on the eye with my cute triangles that don't lead to goals. I’m not addicted to the brown bottle. I’m not sexually active before marriage. I read the bible, pray, go to church every Sunday. I’m content with being in the conveyor belt of life moving from uni to a job to a marriage to kids till eventual death. I'm ok. I’m dominating. My life isn’t spiraling out of control, no losing.

Where’s the attacking thrust? Where’s the taking risks for Jesus and witnessing Christ in my life to others? Shouldn't I be counter-cultural or I've just blended in till no-one sees Jesus in me? Where’s the Isaiah altitude? "Here I am LORD send me!" I play it safe and sit perched in the sanctuary, instead saying, “ Someone else will do it.”

I’ll use the someone else line again when I see injustice all around me. I see inequality with the chasm  between the rich and the poor widening but I do nothing. I do nothing to uplift the poor or to alleviate their suffering. I see a world crying out for help but instead I just look away, shrug my shoulders, feel the sympathy but never the empathy. I guess I’m  the reason for Isaiah 59:15- “The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no –one, he was appalled there was no -one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him and his own righteousness sustained him.”

I pay no attention to Micah 6:8. Yes he has shown me what is good but do I act justly? Do I love mercy? Do I walk humbly with my God?

Sometimes I just take the route 1 long ball method of just going to church and doing nothing else, the route 1 way of keeping it simple,   refusing to take a stand for Jesus or the bible and just sit on the fence; not wanting to ruffle any feathers with my beliefs. Instead I keep it on the down low so that I don't hurt anybody.

This sterile way of living is not what God intended. “Attack...Attack...Attack, attack, attack is the cry of the united crowd, and it is also the cry of the saints who yearn for me to press on to get the ultimate prise of being like Jesus regardless of the cost. This requires me to let Jesus be the manger,  to follow his tactics which is his play book,  the bible. I ought to scrutinize scripture, read, re-read it, cover to cover, over and over; not just for inspiration or encouragement but for all round living for good times and bad.

I need to be the player who reflects my manager’s philosophy on the pitch because I have hidden his word in my heart like in Psalms 119: 11. I need to be a reflection of him on the pitch which is in the earth showcasing a loving heart for the lost, a desire to do God’s will above that of my own, a desire to reconcile others to God, and to make disciples, followers of Jesus.

I need to know my natural abilities like writing, my spiritual gifts like giving, my passions like for food, football, integrity and empowerment and avail them to the manager that he uses them in his formation of choice for his glory rather than just using them for myself and my glory.

“For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”(Philippians 2:21).That shouldn’t describe me, his interests should be my interests,  following his drills daily, I need to be praying, thanking him for who he is not just what he has done, confessing my faults to him and to others, praying not just for myself but for others sometimes even  fasting while doing it.

I need to be in fellowship with other believers in small groups so that we can encourage one another to do good as Hebrews 10:24-25 urges. Fellowship by not just going for a church service but beyond that, either in church, at a home, or another place where I congregate with believers and share testimonies of God’s goodness, scripture, my burdens or encouragement as I receive the same. Fellowship is what will bring me closer to God to reflect him to others.

I need to share him with others, share the gospel, and witness him to others that they may know him. Push will come to shove, and like Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9: 19-23, for the sake of the gospel, I will have to become many things. To the Jews, I become like a Jew, to those under the law, I become like one under the law, to those not having the law, I become like one not having the law, though I am under the law of Christ. To the weak, those struggling, I become weak and share my struggles of lust sometimes reaching bondage, domination masochism thoughts,  that through them they may see the power of the gospel, God’s gift of salvation and his sanctifying work fuelled by grace which rains down on me.

I know it has taken an eternity for me to give him control in my life but the only way to play well, attack with penetration so that I win is having him as my manager and essence my LORD. He teaches me what is best for me and directs me in the way I should go(Isaiah 48:17)I need to submit to him, lay down my crown, get off the hot seat and let him take his rightful place. Only then will I attack and not be content with playing safe, then will I win and live the abundant life that he desired for me.