Legendary Dallas Cowboy Coach Tom Landry didn’t believe a person must be a Christian to become a great athlete. However, he felt that it helped and led to a purposeful life. “I feel a man who is not committed to Christ is handicapped in almost anything he does. A person who is committed to Christ has more freedom and is, therefore, able to develop himself to the fullest. He doesn’t need to have the fears and the anxieties that can hold him back. I always found our Christian players seemed to get more out of their jobs. I believe they enjoyed them more and reached higher levels than they would have had they not been committed.”

Leviticus 8-9 – The Royal Priesthood

God chose Aaron, his four sons, and the tribe of Levi to live with a high purpose in Leviticus. They would serve Him as “priests.” While a prophet (Moses) speaks for God to man, a priest (Aaron) speaks for man to God. Originally, God wanted all the Israelites to be a holy nation of priests (Exodus 19:6). But He changed His tactics when they worshipped the golden calf. Today, all believers are included in a “royal priesthood” through a new relationship with God (1 Peter 2:4-10; Revelation 1:6).

Israeli priests lived with a higher purpose than men who lived for themselves. Do you want to live with a higher purpose? Then live a clean life, avoiding anything that contaminates body or spirit (2 Corinthians 7:11). Live cleanly not as a payment for salvation, but because you love Christ who provided salvation.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete know the Levitical Law did its job well, pointing out the sinfulness of mankind and condemning us for it. But it was powerless to save us. Hebrews says the Law was “only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason, it can never . . . make perfect those who draw near to worship” (Hebrews 10:1). Only Jesus’ perfect blood that was shed on the cross took away our sin!

Bible Memory Verse – “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.” Leviticus 26:13 (LSB)