December 15, 2023

Author: Pastor David Miner
December 15, 2023

Reading: 2 Samuel 19              Optional Reading: 2 Samuel 17, 18, 20
“Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the LORD that if you don't go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come on you from your youth till now.” (2 Samuel 19:7 NIV)
Have you ever heard the phrase, “Win one for the Gipper”?
This originated in American football. Knute Rockne was the coach of the US Notre Dame team in the 1920s and George Gipp was his star player. The story goes that Gipp fell ill and when dying he asked Rockne to promise that, when things were going badly for the team, he should inspire them by asking them to 'win one for The Gipper'.
Ronald Reagan played the part of Gipp in the 1940 film, “Knute Rockne: All American.” The screenplay has the line: “And the last thing he said to me, "Rock," he said, "sometime when the team is up against it and the breaks are beating the boys, tell them to go out there with all they've got and win just one for the Gipper.
Leaders need to step into tough situations and lead. It may be at school, or at your job, or at home, or even at church as we transform into the church God would have us be moving forward. Are you a leader? Sometimes, like David in the Bible story for today, you will need to jump into a situation and offer words of encouragement. Don’t duck out on the opportunity. Ask God for the words and strength to act. We all need leaders to help guide us forward. Give it your very best and leave the rest in the hands of God trusting in Him to lead each of us, every day.
Lord, show me how to lead in school, church, and on my team. Amen.

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