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God bless
If someone approached the average Alabama football fan and asked about Jalen Hurts - how would he respond? Jalen Hurts became the first true freshman to start as quarterback at Alabama in 32 years. He set records at Alabama as both an effective runner and passer. He demonstrated tremendous poise and selflessness upon being benched at halftime of the 2018 National Championship and the following season. Jalen Hurts then divided Alabama fans more than any other player in recent history, because upon his transfer to Oklahoma for his senior season - most Alabama fans also became fans of the Oklahoma Sooners. Jalen has continued to break records on the field, but it may be his off-the-field actions that could inspire the most change.
On October 3rd, Jalen Hurts joined Peyton and Eli Manning’s broadcast of Monday Night Football. He discussed football with Peyton and Eli Manning, but what caught my attention was the sweatshirt he wore during the interview. Where someone may use this platform to push for social and political agenda, Jalen wore a shirt that contained a simple yet profound statement – “God bless whoever hating on me.” This was a counterculture message being broadcasted on national TV in the 21st century.
We live in a world where the biblical model of love and forgiveness has been all but forgotten. It is a “dog-eat-dog” world. The American dream has become festered by the prevalent selfishness, pride, and ego that seems to drive the average person. The attitude of caring for one another and praying for one another has been lost in the darkness. If someone comes after you, retaliation is the only viable reaction, because anything less makes one appear weak and small. In all of this chaos, Jalen Hurts wore a sweatshirt that flipped the narrative. He did not attack anyone, but rather called for God to bless his enemies.
The message on Jalen’s sweatshirt was said in response to those who deny his ability to be a successful quarterback in the NFL, but what does that have to do with us? While the exact phrase may not fit our own lives, maybe one of the following phrases needs to be adopted into our daily prayers:
God bless those who have maligned me.
God bless those who have discouraged me.
God bless those who have been a stumbling block to me.
God bless those who have wronged me.
God bless those who have said false things about me.
God bless those who have persecuted and oppressed me.
God bless my enemies!
These words are difficult to type and will be even more difficult to put into application, but this is the expectation, not of Jalen Hurts, but of our heavenly Father.
Jesus gave mankind the perfect example to imitate in our lives. The apostle John wrote – “the one who says he abides in him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked” (1 John 2:6). When Jesus said – “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” – He did not expect the impossible from us, but rather something made possible through God’s grace and strength. When Jesus was crucified on the cross, He did not call for the Father to rain down fire and brimstone, but rather He prayed – “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Our Savior prayed for His enemies and demonstrated His love toward them by remaining on the cross for their sins!
What if someone mistreats me? What if someone says all kinds of evil things about me? How am I supposed to respond? Jesus has called for us to respond differently from the world - we are called to love and pray for our enemies! This will never be simple to apply, but again it can be achieved through the grace and strength supplied by God. May God give us these things most desperately needed to rise above this world and be the lights He has called for us to be! God bless my enemies! God bless my brothers and sisters in Christ! God bless all who I encounter on a daily basis!
