Galatians 6:1-2 (ESV)

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

We’ve been joking about Fantasy Football being an important ministry at our church. For some of us, it’s right up there with Disaster Relief, Food Pantry, Sunday Worship and our Bess Knapp Daycare. It even has its own ministry page on our church website and now has a weekly devotional blog! But even though we may be guilty of putting too much emphasis on something that has no actual bearing in real life – after all it is called “Fantasy,” there is still an opportunity for us to minister to one another. Because of Fantasy Football, I spend more time interacting with this group of guys and gals over the course of the football season than I do throughout the rest of the year. I hope we can each see this time as an opportunity to get to know one another a little better and “Bear one another’s burdens” over the next few months…and I don’t mean the burdens of injuries to your best player or blowing over half your budget on Saquon Barkley.

There may be someone going through a hard time that needs encouragement. Some of us maybe transgressing in a way that calls for restoration in a spirit of gentleness. Others may need help fighting our own temptations and could use a good Christian friend to help.

Let’s get to know the people in our league via the ESPN App, social media, e-mail, or even in real life! As you look over your lineups for the week, pray for the person you are playing. Pray for those with better records than you. Pray for those who grabbed your player off the waiver wire. You may not know them well, or what they are going through, but God does!

Don’t forget, you can communicate with your league via your fantasy football message board on the app, or through the REALM App.

In Christ,

Ray