With the fourth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts select…

Anthony Richardson, quarterback from the University of Florida! Did they get it right? A lot went into this pick. Is Anthony THE ONE they will pass the franchise quarterback baton to for years to come? That is a lot of pressure placed on the back of one ‘kid’. (He is a month shy of 21). For the Colts, that quarterback baton has been passed and dropped the last few years. We are not here to debate whose fault or why the baton was dropped. But Anthony Richardson is the chosen one in 2023. The one to lead the Colts into the future.

The Apostle Paul had a passing of the baton moment. While it didn’t come with all of the glitz and glamor of an NFL Draft, Paul was handing off the church leadership to another young man. Passing it on to a young quarterback named Timothy. (Many believe Timothy was just 21 years old at the time.) He has been on Paul’s draft board since his second missionary journey when he travelled through Lystra and met this young teenager that the whole town spoke well of. (Acts 16:1) And in those next few years of travelling and mentoring Paul saw something in Timothy that moved him to the top of his draft board. For Timothy this was his Ephesians 2:10 moment.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” 

Here’s the thing. God has a draft board and you are on it. God has been shaping you, Paul says ‘conforming you to the image of Jesus.’ And he has been building in you exactly what you need to be the workmanship he is calling you to be. You can have an Ephesians 2:10 moment as well. Because being drafted in the first round means nothing if you never play the game. If you are content with just sitting in the stands and watching everyone else play. On draft day, it doesn’t matter who you are or if you think you lack the necessary skills. You are God’s masterpiece that he is building to play the role he has designed you to play. You have a place on the team, a place in the game! 

I am not writing this because the church needs volunteers and we need to fill open spots. I am writing this because you are designed by God and I want you to be fulfilled as a follower of Jesus.  Service is not about filling positions, it is about realizing the joy of being who God is crafting you to be. And if you already know and are serving, than that makes you a Paul who needs to find a Timothy to pass the baton on to. Not getting in the game leaves a bigger gap in a believer’s life than in the life of the church. And if you don’t know what God might be creating you for than let this be your Ephesians 2:10 moment when you, by faith, say yes to God. Reach out to me or another church leader and talk about how God has wired you and what he may be calling (drafting) you to do. You have an Ephesians 2:10 moment. Because…

For whatever position it is, you are God’s #1 pick.

“With the next pick in the 2023 Church Draft, God selects…you, a servant, from the University of Life!”