This morning I spent some free time watching the US national women’s soccer team playing in the quarterfinals of the Olympic soccer tournament. Soccer is a team sport fwhere each player has a specific role to perform. When I was little, soccer was the first sport I learned to play.
The goalkeeper is a unique player with capabilities the other players don’t because they are set apart specifically for defending the goal.
- Handling the ball
- Defending in the goal
- Clearing the ball
Goalies help teams win games by being patient and focused. One of the unique things about Olympic soccer is that you can see different playing strategies worldwide.
International soccer or “futball” as the rest of the world calls it is my favorite sport to play or watch. Some teams play more direct offensive futball, while others take a more defensive and conservative approach to the game.
The goalie has to trust the other players to be on the offense and even the goalie’s first line of defense at times. However, there are also times when the goalie must be brave enough to get out of the box and help the other players defend the goal.
Goalies must learn to defend wisely if they want to keep the goal safe. They are specifically for defensive purposes to save the game.
How to Save?
A natural mindset is that we must fight or go on the attack to overcome the opposition. We want to save ourselves. The dictionary defines save as, “To keep safe or rescue from harm; keep or store.”
But another common way to save the day is to defend like a goalie. God’s people are saved and set apart from the fallen world we live in. God calls us to be different, a holy people who are dedicated to Him and His purposes.
We aren’t saved to be great in the world or to live like it, God has set us apart from it to save us from it (John 1:12-13, 2 Corinthians 6:14-17, Romans 12:2, Galatians 5:16, Colossians 3:10.)
The Apostle Paul remembered a basic Jewish teaching from his childhood about how God’s people are set apart and saved for God (Exodus 19:5-6, Deuteronomy 7:6; 14:2.)
Qāḏaš
Part of God’s plan to save the world was to establish a nation that would be dedicated to God alone. God promised Abraham, he would make his descendants into a great nation, not for Abraham’s glory—but for God’s alone (Genesis 12:1-3.)
Israel was consecrated for God and His purposes. The Hebrew word commonly used for consecrate in the Old Testament is qāḏaš and it can also mean “Dedicated, holy, prepare, separate, or sanctified.”
One of the names given to God by the Israelites is Jehovah Mekoddishkem, which means the Lord who sanctifies you. Mekoddishkem is derived from qāḏaš. The meaning is clear; God sanctifies and saves His people from the world.
God does the work to purify us from the world because He knew we have a sinful nature. Deep inside we know something isn’t right with us, we know we are broken and need to be saved. In Judaism, the mitzvah is the process for Jewish people to purify and cleanse themselves. Below are the stages of a traditional Jewish mitzvah.
- Lighting of the Shabbat candles.
- Washing your hands.
- Good works or charity.
- Wearing religious clothes.
- Saying blessings.
- Reciting the Hallel.
- Studying the law.
It is unclear if Jesus ever went through Mitzah because the process is a modern belief that was developed after the days of Jesus. However, about the same age as Bar Mitzvah for boys, Jesus was found in the temple teaching Scriptures to the priests (Luke 2:42-47.)
Jesus taught His followers to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16.) Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus taught His followers to be holy, because they were set apart and saved for God (Matthew 5:48.)
We cannot be different from the lost if we’re trying to follow them and be great like them, God saves us from being captives of this world (John 8:36, Romans 8:2, Galatians 5:1.)
Prisoner Swap
One of the biggest stories around the world this week was a multi-country prisoner swap with Russia. The surprise negotiation was a welcomed turn of events. Russia has been out to get any individual from any country that opposed the views or authority of Pres. Putin.
It’s long been an American policy not to abandon its citizens who are caught in peril. It wasn’t an offensive play that brought our people home; it was a defensive and diplomatic act that saved lives.
The prisoner swap involved more than just the United States and Russia, America’s allies also agreed to release some prisoners to help get our citizens home. That is how true teamwork works.
- Communication
- Commitment
- Confidence
- Camaraderie
- Countability
The irony of the situation is that Trump bragged he was the only one who Putin would listen to and let the prisoners go for. Mr. Trump has a Messiah complex and wants to save the day all by himself.
His pride and greed have corrupted his character. Mr. Trump wants the glory that only belongs to Jehovah Mekoddishkem!
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