"But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." Colossians 3:8 (NIV)
Life is a lot like football. You have a goal, a playbook, and a team, but penalties can cost you yards—or even the whole game. Spiritually, God has a playbook for your life, and there are “penalties” that can hold you back from the blessings He’s called you to.
The first penalty is holding. In football, holding slows the offense and costs yardage. Spiritually, “holding” is clinging to sins, bad habits, past hurts, or fleshly desires. If you hold on, you can’t advance spiritually. God wants you to release what’s keeping you tied down so He can move the chains forward in your life.
The second penalty is unsportsmanlike conduct. A quarterback yelling at officials or fans can hurt the team. In life, anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language are spiritual unsportsmanlike conduct. Impulsive words and actions can destroy relationships, hinder your testimony, and make you ineffective in your calling. Keep your spirit in check—play the game with integrity and love.
The third penalty is facemask. Grabbing a facemask in football can cause injury and penalties. In life, being two-faced or dishonest is just as damaging. People are watching you at work, at home, in church. If your faith is real, it shows consistently, not only in public but behind closed doors. Authenticity honors God and strengthens your witness.
The fourth penalty is stepping out of bounds. Stepping out of bounds costs yards, even if the play looks good. Spiritually, stepping out of God’s boundaries—hurting others, harboring unforgiveness, or compromising with sin halts your progress. You may feel like you’re moving forward, but until you make it right, you can’t advance. Repent, restore, and stay in bounds with God’s Word.
When you follow the Spirit’s playbook, avoiding penalties, God moves you forward. You gain spiritual yards, score victories in relationships, and run into the end zone of His blessings.
Prayer: Lord, help me to let go of what holds me back. Rid me of anger, malice, and all ungodly habits. Help me to be authentic, to stay in Your boundaries, and to feed my spirit with Your Word daily. Teach me to play the game of life with integrity so I can advance for Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Watch the Full Sermon Here
