The following is an e-mail I sent to all the members of Aflame yahoo group. I pray that it will bless you too in spuring you towards the price laid before us in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Hey Team,
Disappointed? Sad? Frustrated? Unfair?
Well... we lost, I know how you feel. I have felt like this many times. But one thing stood out today despite the above emotions. That is Christlikeness. Ultimately it does not matter what I think about how each of you did (though I have lotsa things to say about that). It all boils down to that last sermon of the year that most of you heard in WEB before we played today.
I would be writing a report to Matthew about the match. The first thing I will say is that, I am honored by all of you for I have found the Jesus Gen in Aflame F.C. In my opinion, you guys have demonstrated what it means to live for and honor Christ in EVERY SITUATION. You guys have given me the honor of playing in a team that honors JESUS first even though we were losing (Infact I felt i was the roughest with them... hahahah).
Brothers (And sisters reading this mail) Paul in his letter to the Ephesians spurred them on to live a life worthy of the calling they have receieved.
"As a prisioner (Paul) for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle, bearing with one another in LOVE. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Ephesians 4:1-3 (NIV)
The chapter goes on to say:
"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up INTO Him who is the Head, that is, Christ."
Brothers, today's match was against fellow brothers in Christ. We are one body in Christ. That is what the above passage in Ephesians 4 is all about, unity of the body. Lets press on to live such a life as this in every match even if our opponents have not yet been saved. Let us beleive that one day they too will be part of this body and we had a part to play in that.
Today was a great victory, for today the victory was found in the character of the team. Aflame will become a great team not only for the skill and discipline in the team, Aflame will be great in the eyes of God.