Drafted by God

 

Shedeur Sanders was drafted in the 5th round.  The 144th pick overall. 

Tim Tebow was drafted in the 1st round.  The 25th pick overall.

Drew Brees was selected as the first pick of the second round of his draft.  The 32nd pick overall. Tom Brady was drafted in the 6th round of the draft.  The 199th pick overall. 

John Downing was drafted in the 1991st round, on the 23rd of February.  We don’t know what he was overall but we know that his name was added to the Lamb’s book of life that day. His 30 plus career is still going. 

When did the Holy Spirit “pick” or speak to you about being “drafted” to be on the real GOAT’s team?  Not only is Jesus the greatest of all time, His team is the greatest of all time.  That’s the team I want to be on.  

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.  Rev. 3:20 NIV

3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” 

“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:3-10NIV

3 As he traveled he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him [displaying the glory and majesty of Christ]; 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice [from heaven] saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting and oppressing Me?” 5 And Saul said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”   Acts 9:3-6AMP

When the Lord calls you through His word, Romans 10:9-10; 17: 

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. 

 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him [giving him the desire to come to Me]; and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day.  John 6:44AMP

Do you remember when that desire came to you to draw near to God?  That desire to be with God?  That desire to ask the Lord to enter your heart and change your life? All of Heaven rejoices just as the families of those young college players rejoice when their loved one gets that phone call on draft night from one of those 32 NFL teams telling them they have been drafted.  

Are we as excited when someone gets drafted by God? 

Those of you who are already initially drafted, do you or have you felt some type of way because you haven't been drafted for something specific in ministry, whether it be pastoring, teaching, etc.?  

As we all know even though you may get drafted to a team you still have to try out for your position.  Remember there’s a first string, second string and a third string.  However, on God’s team there’s a place for everyone though not everyone will get to play at the same time.  Sometimes they do but sometimes we don’t.  Sometimes we are needed on the sidelines, the locker room or in the front office.  We don’t always get to be on the field.  Sometimes we have to wait our turn to get to play on the field but that doesn’t mean that what you’re doing off the field isn’t important.  What’s done off field is just as important as what is done on the field.  Those of us who get injured or decide they don’t want to play, when we come back may have to wait again or wait longer before we get to play on the field again.  Wisdom is learned during your time off the field, just as it is during the off season.  However, with God’s team there is no off season.  We play 24/7.  

Those of us who are off field, those of us who are sitting on the sidelines watching everyone else play, your time is coming. You get to review and learn the plays if you’re in the locker room.  Your Samuel moment will arrive when God needs you or your Saul moment when you leave the opposing team.  Our Coach will eventually look at you, call your name, and point to the field. But during this time it is time to practice on the sideline.  While you’re off the field learn all that you can learn.  Do all that the Lord asks of you on the sideline, off the field, in the locker room and in the front office.  

If you just got drafted, don’t worry, you’ll get your rookie season.  If you’ve been playing for a while and you’re still on the field, it’s not time to retire yet.  The Lord hasn’t called your number. You're still a most valuable player to God.  He can use you anywhere on or off the field.  You’re still needed to win games.  

And to those of you who are the first string:  remember to take your time outs.  As the body of Christ we can’t have a tired first string.  We have to have a healthy first string.  When the Coach tells you to take a time out, do it.  Don’t waste your time out. Don’t waste an opportunity to sit on the sideline or in the locker room.  Those are your opportunities to review the game plan and rest before returning to the field.  It is also your time to encourage those who haven’t taken the field yet and they need your encouragement.  It’s when you get to pass on words of wisdom to all of the new rookies who just got drafted.  Time outs are imperative.  Take them. 

Gentle reminder: no matter what role or position you play, you have been drafted into something bigger than life itself and we must show the world what it is, so that they can be drafted, too. How could you not want to be a part of the greatest team of all time?

Everyday is draft day.  Make sure you answer His call before the seasons are over. It doesn’t matter what round you get picked up in as long as you come to play.