| Throughout life there are certain important choices we | | | | The Bible explains to us God's rules, our need to obey |
| have to make and some of them are quite | | | | them, and how to live our lives His way. It is our nature |
| straightforward and some of them are highly | | | | to want to cheat to our advantage and do things our |
| challenging. What do you do if millions of people are | | | | way. |
| watching you? | | | | The Bible calls this sin and tells us that such behaviour |
| The World Cup is starting in South Africa and there | | | | isn't acceptable to God. If we are not willing to accept |
| are many lessons we can learn from incidents on and | | | | His authority and change, then we can never be close |
| off the pitch. | | | | to God. |
| I have enjoyed football for a number of years having | | | | He leaves the choice to us. |
| [played various sports, but I clearly remember David | | | | There was a great leader called Joshua. We read |
| Beckham's first World Cup finals in 1998 ended in | | | | about him in the Old Testament part of the Bible. He |
| disappointment against Argentina after he was shown | | | | called people to come and serve the living God. He |
| a red card by Danish referee Kim Neilsen. Without him | | | | called people to follow the only God there is; the God |
| England lost on penalties. I remember what I was doing | | | | of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Joshua called people to |
| and how I was serving the living God on that particular | | | | fear Almighty God and be faithful to God and throw |
| afternoon. | | | | away all false gods and idols. |
| David Beckham was blamed by many fans and the | | | | His challenge was for men and women to make that |
| press for the defeat. | | | | choice and he encouraged them to follow the living |
| In March 1999, Diego Simeone admitted faking injury to | | | | God, and he set the example, by saying that he and |
| get Beckham sent off. Simeone said, "Let me just say | | | | his household were going to serve the Lord God. |
| the referee fell into the trap. Obviously I was being | | | | Joshua was a brave leader. He was courageous, and |
| clever. By letting myself fall, I got the referee to pull out | | | | made wise choices. He had learned his leadership |
| a red card immediately. In reality, it was not a violent | | | | apprenticeship under the dynamic leadership of Moses |
| blow. It was just a little kickback with no force behind it, | | | | who lead two and half million people out of Egypt, and |
| and it was probably instinctive." | | | | out of slavery, to make their way towards the |
| That is quite an admission and confession. Was there | | | | Promised Land. |
| any repentance? Repentance is always essential. | | | | Now, there's a phrase we seldom hear today but |
| Sadly, players often pretend to be fouled and fake | | | | good leaders will seek to lead people to the Promised |
| injury. They know the rules but break them if it is to | | | | Land and for us that can only be through faith in Jesus |
| their advantage. They don't care about the impact on | | | | Christ. |
| others. | | | | |