Legendary Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry didn’t believe that a person must be a Christian to become a great athlete. However, he believed it helped lead to a purposeful life. “I feel a man who is not committed to Christ is handicapped in almost anything he does. A person committed to Christ has more freedom and can therefore develop himself to the fullest. He doesn’t need the fears and 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 – Higher Calling

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 the 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 mankind’s sinfulness 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!