The Cheer

Watching basketball games has me reminiscing of my years in school. Attending basketball and football games was a common Friday night event. Along with the team, the sidelines of the field would always be occupied with the cheerleading squad. Fans in the stands would follow along with their encouraging chants. Together we would encourage our players to play their best.
One of these cheers would call out the name of a player on the team followed by the words, “…he's our man if he can't do it ______ can.” This blank would then be filled in with another player's name. The cheer would be repeated several times, often going through all the names of the players currently in the game.
I heard someone from a different school speak of this cheer. At that school the last repetition of this line would be the team's Most Valuable Player. Unfortunately, this valuable player would sometimes slip up and not perform as well as others had hoped. He wasn’t always able to do what was necessary.
At our school the final repetition of this cheer was as follows, “The team the team there are men if they can't do it no one can.” Our school was on to something that this other school missed. There is no one indispensable player on any team. It is the whole team working together that can become unstoppable.

In the body of Christ, we work together against the powers of darkness. In His kingdom work, we cheer each other on. “Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 AMP) Those who have gone before us are also watching us. “Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1 AMP)

We have been trained and given the talent and ability to perform our individual tasks. God equips and empowers us. “Now may the God of peace [Who is the Author and the Giver of peace], Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood [that sealed, ratified] the everlasting agreement (covenant, testament)  Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages). Amen (so be it).” (Hebrews 13:20-21 AMP) He will remain faithful to the end. “And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.” (Philippians 1:6 AMP)

As we are working on our individual pieces in God's plan, we also work together as the body of Christ. “For as in one physical body we have many parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function or use, so we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another].” (Romans 12:4-5 AMP) We each hone our skills, give of our strength and remain ever aware of the abilities of our coworkers in Christ. As a team we will accomplish the task of bringing the love of God to this world and reaping a harvest for Him. “And He said to them, The harvest indeed is abundant [there is much ripe grain], but the farmhands are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Luke 10:2 AMP)

When we obediently work with all our might to fulfill our roles, we do well and please God. When we trust and cooperate with others we do even better. “Two are better than one, because they have a good [more satisfying] reward for their labor.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9 AMP) In all of this we understand that as the body of Christ together can perform all that God has called us to do. Each has moments when his/her labor and skill are highlighted. Each will have times to take the background and allow fellow believers to shine. At all times we obey God and strive for excellence in all that we do. “Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men.” (Colossians 3:23 AMP) In the end it is all of God's children working together that can fulfill His call to bring His kingdom to this earth.

So, whether currently shining or seemingly obscure, obediently fill your role in God’s perfect plan. Together, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, we will be Christ’s church, “… and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it].” (Matthew 16:18 AMP)