On draft day in 1987, the Seattle Supersonics held the number five overall pick. They selected a small forward named Scottie Pippen. Later, they would deal him to the Chicago Bulls for center Olden Polynice. The Sonics really needed a center, so the deal made sense at the time. Polynice averaged only 5.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in his five years with the Sonics. Pippen won six NBA championships with the Bulls and became one of the league’s top players.

Romans 1 – Misplaced Worship

Pippen’s trade or exchange is one of the worst in NBA history. There’s another exchange that each of us has made, which is far worse in Romans 1. Paul points to the presence of sin in our lives. Sin is idolatry. The worship of the creation rather than the Creator. In other words, we traded worship of the Creator for worship of the creation. We have chosen to have our needs met by the creation. This trade negatively impacts everything! It results in people who live in their sin, and Paul describes the destruction that occurs. Apart from God, people are given over to sin and destruction.

Paul wrote Romans to proclaim the gospel so people would recognize their sin of worshipping the creation and turn to Jesus as their only way of salvation.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete realize their friends and teammates, who don’t have a relationship with Jesus, have exchanged the worship of the Creator for the creation. Like Paul, they make every effort to help the sinner see the negative consequences of worshipping the creation rather than the Creator.

Bible Memory Verse – “Because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, both His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen and understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:19-20 (LSB)

Click HERE for the Kingdom Sports Minute on Worst Trade

Our featured book this week is from the Total Athlete Series, book 3 – Focus (Stay Sharp When Everything Wants You Dull) by Ron Brown & Gordon Thiessen

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