As I write this blog, I am still recovering from heart failure over my Patriots heading to another Superbowl. (Pause for much cheering or cursing)
I am a die hard sports fan of all teams in New England. When the Red Sox finally won their first World Series in 2004, I jumped for joy. There is a hole in my ceiling as proof. I ran outside in the middle of the night running around the ballfield in my back yard yelling and jumping for joy.
I did the same type of thing when the Celtics would win championships and I do the same thing just about every year in February since my Patriots always seem to win the Superbowl. It never gets old. (Bears fans, you will just have to trust me on that one.)
While I have never been able to attend a Patriots game, I am still quite excited watching them on tv. I have been to a few Buffalo Bills games (which I know is not really an NFL game but go with me on this). It was such a cool experience watching people go crazy for their favorite teams.
I have often wondered why people can get so excited about their sports teams, but when it comes to things of God, some people don’t seem to have much excitement at all.
What if we got as excited about what Jesus has done in our lives as we do at a sporting event? How would that change the way we live?
My prayer is that as I go through this New Year, more people will know that I am a Jesus fan than a Patriots, Red Sox or Celtics fan.
Look at these verses. John and Jesus were still in their mother’s womb and when Jesus came into his presence, John jumped for joy.
"When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy." –Luke 1:41-44
May we have that same joy and excitement when we realize we are in the presence of Jesus.