Ricky Simmons exemplifies a college football player who went from the penthouse to the outhouse. In the early 1980s, he was a star receiver for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. After graduating and briefly playing pro football, he traded his football career for cocaine. Eventually, he ended up in a prison cell and was forgotten by friends and fans. It wasn’t until he received an envelope from his former coach that his life started to change. Tom Osborne wrote, “Dear Ricky, I know your parents believed in you. I believe in you. Upon your release, if there’s anything I can do to help you, feel free to contact me.”

Simmons said, “I fell to my knees right there in my prison cell and turned my life over to Christ. The fact he took time out of his day to even acknowledge me … I can never repay him for that.” Simmons left prison and became a drug counselor and motivational speaker. Since then, he meets weekly with Osborne to show him he is staying clean and accountable to God for his life. Many other former players for Tom Osborne have similar stories about how their old coach reached out to them after their playing days to offer help. He was always willing to listen and show compassion for them.

Heart Over Ritual

As news spread about Jesus, religious leaders from Jerusalem came to examine him. Mark highlights Jesus’ compassionate nature in chapter 7. He contrasts Jesus with the hearts of the religious leaders. Instead of showing compassion for their followers, they were hypocritical and self-righteous. They believed they were pleasing to God because they kept the Law—or parts of it. Jesus pointed out to them that, no matter how strict they were in following the details of their rules, they failed to meet God’s standard of holiness: “You have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness” (Matthew 23:3).

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete prioritize the well-being of others and show compassion whenever they can to those in need. They focus more on pleasing God than on being self-righteous.

Bible Memory Verse – “There is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man.” Mark 7:15 (LSB)

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