Replacement Player(s)

In professional sports, a replacement player is an athlete who is not a member of the league's players association and plays during a labor dispute: (e.g. a strike or lockout):  For example:

·       The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) went on strike in 1987, and the owners brought in replacement players to continue the season

·       In 1994, the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) went on strike. Spring training in 1995 started with replacement players.

Seanma Willingstone is a manager for the local energy plant near his home.  With no college degree, a man of color who worked his way up the ladder, he credits God with his success.  He is dependable, punctual, and thorough, but he complains about everything (opening/closing the plant, mandatory overtime, the large sum he pays in taxes, his wife, his kids, his toe, the weather, the news, etc.)  One of his employees jokes that he is so negative that he develops in a dark room.  His employees and peers are at their wits end and complain to management.  Though they have grounds to fire him, the Executive Team decides to replace him with someone who is more suited for the position.   He is devastated when he gets the news but he knows it’s his own fault because the Holy Spirit convicts him.

Lulia Mae Jones is the Choir President and proudly informs anyone who will listen that she is a fifth generation member of the Ship of the Seas on the Eastside Church of the Living and Breathing Missionary Saints of the Most High Church for All People, Inc.  There have been lots of changes since the new young Minister replaced Pastor Judge Smith after his demise three months ago.  Sis. Lulia Mae was recently informed that the president position she holds has been replaced with a Pastor of Music and Arts but they would love for her to remain active in some capacity.  She assures the new “young” Minister that she will give him an answer after she “prays on it.”  She walks away thinking to herself “how could they replace me after all the years I’ve devoted to this ministry.  Hmmph, I wish I would help them. Imma sit myself right own down in the audience every Sunday.  They’ll be sorry”.

I know that many God-fearing church folk would like to believe it, but honey-child, you are not invincible.  Serving in a position does not mean you “own it.”  If you have the wrong attitude – “they better be glad I come to church,” “look at me and how well I do this, that and the third”; If you usurp your authority (throw your weight around), You have the wrong motives; You drank your own Kool-Aid and/or You’re mean as homemade sin.  You’re mean, mad and miserable and subconsciously or subconsciously pass that negativity onto everybody that will bite, don’t you know God can replace you?   I don’t just mean by replacing you, I you’re your new home is six feet under.  Folks are having a sho’ ‘nuff party instead of a re-pass ‘cause you were an absolute gnat. There are also times when we are “replaced” so we can be “released” to do other things in ministry or to get a break.  It’s not the end of the world if you’re not in a specific position anymore. Put yo' big girl panties "own" and get over it! 

Let’s look at some replacement players from the bible.

Abigail was a beautiful bright and intelligent woman but she was married to an authentic fool, Nabal.  I hear you, if she was so intelligent why did she married such a jerk.  Women didn’t marry men they fell in love during that time because marriages were pre-arranged.  At any rate, God killed Nabal for his foolishness and replaced him with King David.  (I Samuel 25 entire chapter)

Queen Vashti was a very beautiful woman who I like to say was born before her time.  She was bold enough to disobey a direct order of the King, her husband, which could have led to her immediate death, however, he banished her from his site forever instead.  She was replaced with Queen Esther, who was stunningly beautiful inside and out.  God used her to save an entire nation.  (Esther 1 entire chapter)

Finally there is Saul.  He was tall, handsome and fearless (1 Samuel 9).  God hand selected him to be the first king of the Israelites.  However, after two years in office, he was disobedient and God punished him (1 Samuel 13 entire chapter).  He disobeyed God a second time, God rejected him and then replaced him with David, the shepherd boy who killed Goliath (1 Samuel 15 entire chapter).   King Saul knew that David had been chosen as his replacement, though he (David) didn’t take the office until several years afterwards.  During his reign he became jealous of David and hunted him down like an animal for years, but God protected David from Saul’s wrath until Saul died in battle.

The next time you take for granted a position that you hold or you start complaining about your ministry; who doesn’t appreciate you; blah blah blah blah blah, do yourself a favor.  STOP.  Take a breath.  Remind yourself why you’re serving.  If your motives are wrong you are wasting your time.  The only reward you’re going to get is the one people give you.  Don’t get me wrong, we all like to be appreciated.  Thank you goes a long way, but if your goal is to please God, like for real, you can serve without anyone ever saying thank you, giving you a plaque, or taking you to dinner because you are giving your service for God and to offer your gift(s). 

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.  Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.  Philippians 2:12-15 (NKJV)

Salvation is a free gift, but we have to work it out.  Diligently do all that we can to preserve, protect, and cherish this most precious gift!

Your work in this case is to serve means to minister.  Fear and trembling in this context means to reverence God, not to be afraid of Him.  He is not a tyrant, He loves us.

In His Humble Excellence