January 2017 – Lessons from Lombardi

Lessons from Lombardi: Back to the Basics 

Vince Lombardi was the head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1959-67, winning five championships over his nine years. One of the qualities which separated Mr. Lombardi from the pack of other NFL football coaches was his passion for going back to basics. Every year, at the beginning of the football season, he would stand in front of his players and say, “Gentlemen, this is the football.” It is impossible to get much more basic than that. He did this, not because he didn’t think his team of superstars knew what a football was, but because he knew it was vital for their success. He realized the only way to unleash his team’s success was to go BACK TO THE BASICS every year.

As we start this new year, we sense a pull, once again, to focus on the basics of Christ-like living. In 1 Thessalonians 4:10-12 (NLT), the Apostle Paul reminds the Church to stay focused on the basics…

Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more. Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live…

Paul reminds us that the daily basics of Christian living include simple goals like loving people, humble service, hard work, and trust in God. And when we live these out, Paul tells us we will find ourselves standing on a platform of influence with those around us.

We all share the privilege of representing Him in this world and we do it well when the basics are not lost in the routine of life but rather become the starting point of every new day and new year. 

May God bless each day of your New Year!