Punting to Win

By Michael Griego on November 2, 2013 • ( 2 )

Losing is winning in the Christian faith. Are you willing to lose for the sake of Christ? ♦

In sports, a punt is a kick in which the ball is dropped from the hands and kicked before it touches the ground. In the context of the game of American football, punting is only done after failure to progress the ball down the field. After 3 chances to advance the ball at least ten yards, the failing team punts the ball to the other team and gives up possession. It’s an admission of defeat, albeit a temporary one in the battle of the game, but a failure nonetheless that is a negative outcome to be avoided if one wishes to win the war/game.

Who Wants to Lose?
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” – Matthew 16:24-25. Of course this is counter-intuitive. It doesn’t really make sense to us as we naturally seek preservation and life rather than deprivation and death.

What is Jesus talking about?
It’s clear he’s not talking about football. But he is talking about losing what is valued and desired in order to receive what is valued and desired. In fact, he’s talking about life. A few verses earlier he is telling the disciples about the suffering and even death he will face in Jerusalem before rising on the third day. The disciples, particularly Peter, are angry at the very thought but Jesus rebukes him, saying “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” And that’s it exactly. We, like Peter at that time, only have eyes for human concerns, not the concerns of God. We have our homes, families, our careers, jobs, cars, vacations, clothes, electronics, toys and other earthly items that we justify as valuable and even good. We also have our churches, our ministries, our Bible study groups, our programs, our charities, our good works and friendships. Careful there, you say. ‘How can you knock these?’

Giving Up the Ball
I’m not knocking them. Only calling them out. The point is that these things, these idols, even good things that can encumber our well-intentioned world, are but traps or burdens from a free and surrendered life. Certainly this is not about winning in life as the world sees it. In God’s economy (or game), winning comes when we punt; that is, when we give up the ball and admit defeat in advancing under our own power and control. It’s waving the white flag and relinquishing control to God rather than ourselves. The ball, the life, is punted to Him. Now He gets to quarterback and drive the entire game plan for success, defined in His terms, not our own.

How Can You Call That a Win?
But that looks like a loss, a failure to advance, a defeat. Punting means I’ve failed to move the ball forward. And that’s right. In the Christian life, it’s where we get to the point of saying ‘I’m done, I surrender!’ And it’s as if God is saying ‘Finally! I’ve been waiting for this moment. Now I can use you fully as I’ve created and intended for my purposes.’ Ironically, the real living comes when we die to ourselves, our personal schemes and agendas and punt them all to God. It’s when we submit our fears, failures and shortcomings and release full authority to Him who we know deep in our hearts has the better game plan for us, our family and the Kingdom.

As followers of Jesus Christ, It’s just not our game anymore. We’re done. Finished. The old is gone; the new is here. Now watch what He will do in your life. When you really punt and give up the ball, you’ll wonder why you really didn’t do it sooner. That’s the deceit of the worldly game we’re playing. Upon full release, it’s a whole new and exciting adventure.

Have you punted? Have you lost your life to find it?
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Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? – Matthew 16:24-26