Today’s reading from the One Year Bible Online reminded me of the John Fogarty song, Centerfield, which revolves around the lyric, “Put me in coach, I’m ready to play, TODAY!”  The player in today’s reading was Isaiah…

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”

8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”

I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

Isaiah wasn’t initially so eager.  His first response was to say, “No – I’m unworthy,” but God made him ready through the seraphim with the burning coal.  That’s what a good coach does; he prepares the players so when they are eventually put in the game they can succeed.

Such is the nature of our role in the Body of  Christ.  God, through the Holy Spirit at work in each of us, has bee preparing us to be put in the game that we might drive in runs (or this time of year, make touchdowns) for the Kingdom of God.

You might be asking, “Where is the game, what are the rules, and how is it played?”  The game is where you are, be it home, work, school, retirement, or anywhere in between.  In a word, the game is life.  The rules are laid out in the Bible.   How is it played?  That’s not always clear, but what is clear is when it’s played well, God winds up looking good, people are made whole, and everyone comes away a winner.

How has God been preparing you to “produce on the field?”  However that may be, know that you have an awesome coach who has been, and continues to prepare you to be a wonderfully productive player, so get out on the field!