Monday, November 25, 2024
This weekend At the Movies, we watched as another biblical truth was unpacked—this time from the movie Air.
The plot of Air follows the risk Nike took when they embraced Michael Jordan as their basketball spokesperson. This statement alone would seem like a joke if you didn’t already know the history or understand the backstory.
In 1984, Adidas was the leading basketball shoe, and Nike needed a boost. Sonny Vacaro saw the greatness in Michael Jordan. Despite the odds stacked against him, Sonny sold Nike on the idea and convinced Michael’s mother to sit down for a meeting.
Have you ever chased a dream that felt too big to reach? Sometimes, no matter how much we want to have faith and achieve victory, it all seems so hopeless!
Hebrews 11:1
Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.
God sees greatness in you. The first step toward reaching it is having faith—believing that God will make a way and walk with you through every challenge you face. But you have to be willing to take a risk when God shows you the way.
“A shoe is just a shoe until someone steps into it—then it has meaning.”
That’s what Sonny said when he saw that the old, tired, dried out sales pitches weren’t working to catch Michael’s attention. He convinced Michael that Nike saw his true potential and honored his efforts. Several days later, Sonny received what he thought was a rejection call from Michael’s mom, but it was a big ask instead: They wanted a percentage of every shoe sold with Michael Jordan’s name on it.
In the end, Nike signed Michael Jordan. His mom changed the future of athletic endorsements, and today, Nike’s Air Jordans are known around the world.
In every unfamiliar and frightening risk, God sees the potential to use us to make an incredible difference. While we may not be able to see the ending, he has promised that it will ultimately be a happy one (Jeremiah 29:11). The rise to victory is often cluttered with many defeats along the way. That is the risk you take. It’s in the getting back up where victory is found.
Proverbs 24:16
The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.
Questions:
What is your dream? What steps can you take to move closer to achieving it?
Next Steps:
Come back each day this week as we dive deeper into the potential God sees in you.
Choose two of the following (that you're not already doing) and take a step toward strengthening your faith journey:
Prayer:
Father, you see more in me than I see in myself. Thank you for reminding me that I am fearfully and wonderfully made in your image. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13). Faith is believing in things not yet seen (Hebrews 11:1). These are the promises found in your Word that I hold in my heart. I praise you for gently reminding me that I have value; I am worthy; I am a child of the most high God. You are my rock and my salvation. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Romans 1:20
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
Today’s post was written by Julie Estep, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.