Choosing Sides

When I was a kid, our neighborhood basketball court—the kind with the chain nets—was the place where everybody went to play the best basketball. During the summers, top college and high school players packed the court.

One day, I was chosen by a college player to be on his team—something I really didn’t want to do. To me, the opposing team looked a lot more capable of winning. As I stood beside the college player, wishing that I were on the other team, he turned to me and said, “You don’t want to be on our team, do you? I chose you, but I can tell that you don’t want to be on our team.” I hadn’t said a word to him about it, but my body language had betrayed my thoughts. When he asked me if I wanted to be on the other team, I said yes. He responded, “Okay, go over there. We’ll take Tommy instead.” I went, and our team lost.

That college player, just by looking at me, could tell that I didn’t want to commit to his team. When God chooses us and invites us to follow Him, thank goodness He doesn’t change His mind if one day we don’t look like we’re much of a Christian! He never says, “Okay, go over there. I’ll find someone else instead.” In fact, the Bible says that He will leave the flock of 99 to search the hills for the one lost sheep (see Luke 15:4).

Even when we don’t make winning decisions, Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd, remains faithful in His devotion to us. His grace then becomes so irresistible that we’ll never want to wander away from Him! And if for some reason we get a little distracted, He stands waiting for our return to His side.