James 5: 19-20
19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
The term Blind Side became a household term in 2009 when the award winning football movie about Michael Oher (starring Sandra Bullock) was released. For those not familiar with football, the quarterback (QB) has an offensive line whose job is primarily to protect the quarterback and allow the QB enough time to pass the football. One particularly important role with a right-handed quarterback is that of the Left Tackle, because as the QB attempts to pass they can generally see well to the right side but they have a blind side to the left which is where their back is usually facing. The Left Tackle (LT) position (which is the position Michael Oher played) is therefore one of the most important in American Football, because the quarterback is counting on the LT to guard him from unseen danger – in this case a monster bearing down on him in a vulnerable position wanting to knock him silly.
While analogies never measure up perfectly, as Christians it is wise to have Left Tackles in our life to warn us when we are in spiritual danger. We need to be wise and recognize that as 1 Peter 5:8 says: “8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” There are times in our spiritual walk where we let our guard down and we have our backs turned and don’t recognize the dangerous path we are walking down, and Satan relishes those opportunities. In these times it is good to have a Christian brother or sister who is watching our back and is ready to warn us of our error, or even our sin, and then we need to make sure we heed their warnings as in these times they are the voice of God in our lives.
If you have such a Left Tackle in your life, take some time today to thank God for them and take some time to thank them because you are blessed. If you recognize that they have been speaking into your life and you are not heeding their warning, repent quickly and run back into Jesus’ arms, for the wide road will only lead to destruction.
If you do not have a Left Tackle in your life, pray to your Lord Jesus and ask him to bring such a person into your life – a person who loves you unconditionally, a person who will have the courage to correct you when you have erred, and one who will be there to pick you up when you have fallen.
Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10
9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
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