Who's Your Team

The phrase, “Who’s your team” is such a common question at the beginning of any new season of baseball, football, basketball, soccer, softball, you name the sport.  It basically means, who do you play for, align with or root for in that  season.  In a couple of seasons ago of “When Calls the Heart” the main character, Elizabeth had to make a choice between two men, which among fans became Team Lucas and Team Nathan.  The concept of teams is prevalent in every area of our lives from sports to entertainment to business. So, who’s your team?
 
I enthusiastically admit I am Team University Oklahoma, Boomer Sooner! In result these last few weeks of softball play has been incredible and very time consuming.  Watching games, following stats, reading articles, listening to interviews, and talking to others has kept me occupied.  Did I mention I am also just a passive team member, participating from my couch!  I am not even on the field but I heavily identify with my team. 
 
This concept of a team is not limited just to sports activities but also in most employment companies.  These teams are usually identified as production team, service team, management team, leadership team, teaching team etc.  Some team memberships are by our election and others are part of our position. When I became employed at the hospital, I became part of the Case Management Team in the hospital.  More micro, as a Social Worker in ICU, I was part of the interdisciplinary team of ICU.  I was on a team within a team.  There is really no escape from the involvement on a team, whether passive or active.
 
An important concept of team is identification and was noted in “Reference” dated March 27, 2020 as: “Team identity refers to the phenomena of individual team members who feel a positive attitude towards, and identify with their team. When team members achieve team identity, they put the needs of the team before their own”.  My team, OU Women’s Softball team, epitomize this definition.
 
The disciples of Jesus were a team.  Those 12 men had positive attitudes toward Jesus, both internally and externally identified as part of “Team Jesus”.
In Luke 22:54-62, Jesus had been arrested and led away; Peter was following at a distance and seated himself in a courtyard around a fire.  In verse 56-62, a servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”“Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.  The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. Peter denied his membership of his “Team Jesus”.
 
When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we identified with his death, burial and resurrection.  We accepted the sacrifice of his life for the payment of our sins.  In asking Jesus for forgiveness of our sins and accepting him as our Lord and Savior, we become part of the “Team Jesus”. Per the previous definition of team identity, we have positive attitudes toward and identify with our new team.  As team members, we identify with the Great Commission given by Jesus in Matthew 28:18- 20, Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
In life, we find ourselves as team members of multiple teams, some by choice and some by force.  The challenge for us is the balance of priority of how we use our time, energy and finances. There is no condemnation in that statement.  We can be more intentional of the “flexible” time, energy and money we have, turning our attention to “Team Jesus”. 
I am preaching to myself as this blog unfolds.  I have choices and I need to choose wisely.  I exhort you with 1 Chronicles 16:24 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples. Team Jesus is the ONLY eternal team of value.
Blessings,
Karen