When a Bethel student hears that Vespers is going to take place in the Robertson Center gym, their first instinct is to complain and let out a big “UGH!” This was my reaction to when I heard it was going to be in the gym one Sunday night. However, little did I know that this time of worship would change my perspective on the location that has meant so much to me my entire life.
I have been playing basketball ever since I was a little girl; from middle school, to traveling teams to high school and now onto college. I have spent many hours of my life in the basketball gym trying to become that perfect player everyone wants to watch and their family is proud of. I have always seen the basketball court as a place of competition, to beat up on a team and fight to get the win. While growing up in private middle schools and high school, I was told that the basketball court is a place to use the talents that God has given you and to display those talents so all can see how great His works are; that never really hit me until my college basketball career at Bethel University.
While sitting in the gym one Sunday night listening to the Vespers team play, I couldn’t help but look around the gym. I began thinking what was my purpose of playing basketball? After praying to God during a time of reflection, I now play basketball for God. I play to worship Him so others can see His goodness. The basketball court is more than just a place teams practice and compete. It’s a place to worship God. To play for God. To give Him all the glory, win or lose.
God has given each individual their own special gifts, and by using those gifts others can see God’s greatness. Having faith in Christ is more important than any sport and we cannot lose focus of what the main goal is. It’s not to please the fans. It’s not to please the coaches. It’s not to please our parents. Our goal is to live our life for Christ. Many athletes won’t go on to play professional sports, but having that firm foundation in Christ will take you above and beyond. Our faith and trust in God will bring us to much greater things in this life.
Cody Albrecht, one of the leaders on the Vespers team tweeted, “Doesn't matter where Vespers is, in Benson, in the gym, in a closet, God is not contained to one any one space. Love you BU! #GodisGood”
He couldn’t have said it any better. God is not contained to just Bethel University. He is not held captive in the church. God is not hidden from us; God is everywhere! He is present wherever we may be. So for you Bethel students that groan and moan when Vespers is in the gym: No matter where worship takes place, the sole purpose should be praising and worshipping God; placing all your focus on what He has done for your life. God is so much greater than any plan we have for our life and everything we do is done to give glory to Him. We here at Bethel are given the incredible privilege to be able to worship at all. We can't take that for granted.
