No "I" in Team

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

John 17:20-21

There's no "I" in team, right? The key to a successful team is working together. Each member is an important part of the team, but how the team pulls together determines ultimate success. There cannot be an “every many for himself” mentality In a team. The team has to come before the individual.

During the 2015 Cotton Bowl, Baylor's quarterback, Bryce Petty, set a record for the most passing yards in a Cotton Bowl - ever. Pretty awesome, right? Except for the part that Baylor lost. Petty's record setting achievement didn't mean a whole lot when the game ended in defeat. The performance of the team as a whole was more important than a great performance from a great player.

How can we put aside self for the greater good of our team? God clearly cares that you do what He has called you to do. God wants you to personally follow His Will and His Word. But the big picture is about glorifying God, not self. We have to realize that we are only a piece of a huge puzzle. Each piece on it’s own does not convey the entire story, but together, the pieces become a masterpiece. Because we are these pieces, we might not ever see the end result. We just trust that God has the bigger picture in his sights. After all, we are on His team.

Let’s be one with the members of our team so that we can be unified in our “win” as we glorify our Father.

Lord, help us to be unifiers instead of dividers. Show us how to encourage each other and build each other up as we strive toward our common goal of glorifying You.

Julie