A few weeks ago, Richard had the opportunity to serve as Chaplain for the Buffalo Bills while they were in town to play the Saints.
Before you jump to any conclusions, the story here
is not that Richard is forsaking his hometown and becoming a Buffalo Bills fan. Instead, the story here is of God’s faithfulness to use a man who never got a chance to play in the NFL to still impact players in the NFL for the sake of the gospel of Christ.
Richard spoke about the importance of relationships while following Jesus. It is truly a walk that no one can do alone, especially not men who are weekly under the national spotlight. Richard challenged them, as Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, to “encourage one another and build one another up.”
He also implored them not to let chapel every week be the only part of their walk with Christ. The Lord does not want us just one day a week but instead wants our whole lives as he has purchased us completely through the blood of Christ. Jesus gave his all for us so how could we expect to have to give any less to God? Our relationship with him cannot be contained by a one-hour weekly service but instead should be lived out daily, minute by minute.
Thinking about Richard getting a chance to talk to the Buffalo Bills raises a question: can we really believe that it is just coincidence that Richard, raised in the Desire Project of the Ninth Ward, one of the most impoverished areas of New Orleans (which was the murder capital at the time), has the opportunity to share the love of Christ and build relationships with some of the highest paid men in the country? Absolutely not. If we have seen anything from stories of the Bible it is this: God uses what is weak in the eyes of the world to bring about his Kingdom to this earth. That is why we see Jesus enter the world as a baby and not as a CEO, a president, or even a Super Bowl winning quarterback.
Hear what Paul has to say about this in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31:
“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.””
Praise be to our God who uses ordinary people in the world to fulfill his extraordinary plans. Jesus was a carpenter. Peter, James, and John were fishermen. Paul was a tentmaker.
How can God use you in the ordinary of life? Is he opening simple doors for you to faithfully step through in order for him to amazing things?
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