WEEK 20 DEVO | JUDGE NOT

High major football coach PJ Fleck once said, “On bad teams, nobody leads. On good teams, the coaches lead. On elite teams, players have to lead.”

Players have to be able to hold each other accountable to the standard that they set.

But one thing we talk to our athletes about is the importance of holding yourself accountable first.

The best leaders that I know lead by words AND example. Your habits and behaviors are more important than your words and plans. Your words and plans tell us what you want to do, and your habits and behaviors tell us what you are going to do.

You are what you do - not what you want to do, and not what you say you do.

But we all know those teammates who try to lead but who don't follow their own leadership. They try to tell others what to do, but they don't do it themselves.

Don't be an athlete who talks the talk but doesn't walk the walk. Don't be the athlete who demands more from their teammates than they demand from themselves.

Talk the talk and walk the walk. Demand more from yourself than you demand from others. Expect from yourself what you expect from others.

A Biblical version of this is in Matthew 7. While giving his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told His disciples: 

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,'  when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

One of the best teammates I ever had was very talented, tough, smart, and skilled. But most importantly, he held himself just as accountable as he held others. He knew what the right play was, and he did everything he could to make the right play. When he did something good, he told his teammates, "Good job." When somebody messed up, he helped them through it in a way that they still felt good about themselves.

He never asked his teammates to do something that he wasn't willing to do himself. He never got mad at his teammates for not being able to do something that he couldn't - or wouldn't - do.

Because of his skills and his attitude, everybody wanted to play with him, and everybody wanted to be on his team. When you played on his team, you KNEW you had a chance to win. He never judged anyone because he knew that everyone makes mistakes. He just worked hard and made his teammates better, and he encouraged, motivated, and inspired us so much that we thought we could beat anybody when he was with us.

We can have the same confidence when we have Jesus in our life. We can do all things through Christ, who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13). When Jesus is on our team, all things work together for good (Romans 8:28).

Be someone that other people want to play with. Work hard, and work smart, but don't be judgemental. We all have flaws, and we all make mistakes. Help people do more of what they are good at while growing their weaknesses.

The best teams are connected teams. Teams become connected when there aren't afraid to be themselves and when they aren't afraid to make mistakes. If you are going to be a leader, make sure that you are doing the right thing, and don't hold others accountable for things you don't hold yourself accountable for.

And put God first in everything that you do. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and He will provide everything that you need (Matthew 6:33).

THIS WEEK

1 - What is one thing you do well or consistently that you can help your teammates do more or more consistently?

2 - How can you communicate with this and with your teammates? How can you help them see that they need to do more of this and why it is important for them?

3 - What is one thing that you don't do well or consistently enough?

4 - How can you do more of that one thing that you don't do well or consistently enough?

Earlier in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told his disciples, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Mathew 5:16).

This week, let your light shine!

For a Google doc version of this devo, click here: Judge Not