Called into Service

I don’t know if you’ve been following the story of Jeremy Lin, a player for the New York Knicks basketball team.

If you haven’t, Lin is an un-drafted player from Harvard who arrived in December with no guarantee he would be there more than a few weeks. He’d already been cut by Golden State and Huston this season. He was so hesitant to get comfortable in New York that he didn’t even get his own home, but slept at his brother’s place.

But then, due to the injury of another player, Lin was called from the bench and with 25 points sparked his team to victory over New Jersey. But the story kept getting better. Lin became a starter and, with his contributions, the team went on a roll by winning 9 of 11 games over a 20-day period.

Lin has earned two straight Sports Illustrated Covers and has now moved into his own apartment.

Lin isn’t the first to gain fame from humble beginnings. I recall a Vikings player, Bob Lurtsema, who became famous, mostly for his commercials, as “Bench Warmer Bob”. Years before that David, the runt of the family, not even in the running for anything grand, was anointed king by Samuel and David became a person “after God’s own heart.” Everyone of the 12 disciples were called “off the bench” to become part of something grand. And even Jesus, born in a manger, from a no-count town of Nazareth, became the savior of the world.

The point is, we never know when we’ll be asked to step up for something grand. Maybe it is only as “grand” as touching the heart of a friend with our caring love. Maybe it is as “grand” as leading a meaningful service project in God’s name. But, our call as disciples is to be ready, to be prepared and to listen to answer when our coach (the Holy Spirit) calls.

Thomas A. Edison said, “Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

The fact of the matter is, we, you and I, are on a great team, God’s team. In the end, we’ll all have a part to play in God’s kingdom work. Even for benchwarmers and un-noticed disciples, we all have a part to play.

May we be ready when the Spirit calls. May we be alert to the Spirit’s nudging. And may God be glorified in the end.