Are you in the game or on the sidelines?

Scottie Pippen played with Michael Jordan during the Chicago Bulls’ championship years in the 1990s.

He was one of the best forwards of all time, and after Jordan’s first retirement, he helped lead the Bulls to the playoffs as one of league’s best teams.

But in one critical game, his reputation took a big hit.  Why?  Because he refused to go on the court.

With seconds remaining in the game, the coach asked another player to attempt the game-winning shot, and Pippen was so upset about it, he refused to go into the game.

Ironically, the other player hit the game-winning shot with Pippen on the bench.

Here was one of the best NBA players of all time, but people still remember that game to this day.  It’s something he has to live with to this day, whenever people think about his legacy.

The Israelites faced a similar situation.  God was asking the tribes to band together to overcome the people who were oppressing them.  But some of them refused to come.  Why, we don’t know.  But they refused to come.

Criticize Barak for refusing to come unless Deborah came, but these other tribes were worse.  They refused to come at all.  And so Deborah, in her song of victory, wrote,

In the districts of Reuben
there was much searching of heart.

Why did you stay among the campfires
to hear the whistling for the flocks?

In the districts of Reuben
there was much searching of heart.
Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan.

And Dan, why did he linger by the ships?
Asher remained on the coast
and stayed in his coves.

The people of Zebulun risked their very lives;
so did Naphtali on the heights of the field. (Judges 5:15-18)

In other words, while the rest of the Israelites risked their lives to battle their oppressors, the tribes of Reuben, Gilead, Asher, and Dan sat on the sidelines and did nothing.

We too, as Christians, are involved in a war.  A spiritual war in which people are going to hell every day.

And the question God asks us is, “Are you on the playing field reaching out to lost souls?  Or are you on the sidelines?”

For some of the people that you meet, you’ll be the only Christian they’ll ever know.  And if you don’t tell them about Jesus, no one ever will.  And God will hold you accountable.

He’ll ask you, “Others went out; some even risked their lives for the gospel.  Why did you linger?  Why did you stay behind?  Why did you remain where you were?”

Lord, let me not linger on the sidelines, but let me go out on the playing field and make a difference for you. 

Help me be sensitive to your voice and hear what you’re saying to me and what you want me to do.

Don’t let me be an ineffective soldier, but one that makes a difference for you.  In Jesus’ name, amen.