NIL
Theme: NIL
Verse: “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20)
It would be the understatement of the century to say that college sports have been transformed by the introduction of NIL or (Names, Likenesses, and Images). For those that are unfamiliar with NIL it is a way for college athletes to earn money for their exploits on the field of play.
There is another kind of NIL that might be helpful to not only college sports, but everywhere we go in our daily lives. I’ll call it NEW INFLUENTIAL LEADERS.
In 1986, before one of the versions of the Oklahoma-Nebraska Games of the Century two of the combatants, one Sooner and one Cornhusker led nine teammates out to midfield to have a pre-game prayer. The “859th” straight sellout crowd at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln was confused by the players’ action. The players prayed, not for victory or earthly glory, but for a clean, hard fought, injury free contest that would honor God. They invoked our feature verse Matthew 18:20.
At the time, such an action was risky behavior. Opponents were putting God on display in a very public setting asking for Him to be with them in advance of the activity. While that seems to be common sense it was at the time quite rare in college football or other high-level competitions. They were saying “Before we even start, let’s pray and ask God to be at the center of everything.”
What a message! And these young men were NILs. In that moment they transformed the focus of the game from being on them to being on God.
Can you imagine a world where opponents on the field of play stopped and asked God to be with them during the game. To take focus off of them and give Him the glory for their ability to compete. It would completely change the way we play and watch sports.
But most of us are not college athletes. Never fear, stopping to pray can apply to non-sport endeavors as well. We need NIL everywhere, in our homes, our work, and yes in our sports. You can be one! Try it and see the change happen before your eyes.
Have a GREAT Week!
Adapted from True Competitor by Dan Britton and Jimmy Page