Who is Jalen Watts-Jackson?

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

 

If you Google “Jalen Watts-Jackson”, you will find pages upon pages of links. In case you don’t know, he is the Michigan State player who scored the improbable winning touchdown on a blocked punt with ten seconds left in the game against their in-state rival Michigan.

 

Immediately following the game there was a firestorm of social and traditional media activity showing the play. Since then, it has appeared on social media, You Tube, ABC’s Good Morning America, Fox News, local news and too many others to list. Word of this play, and Jalen Watts-Jackson, spread like wildfire.

 

In today’s passage, Paul wrote to the Thessalonians asking them: “Finally, dear brothers, as I come to the end of this letter, I ask you to pray for us. Pray first that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and triumph wherever it goes, winning converts

everywhere as it did when it came to you.”

 

At the time, things were moving fast for Paul, so he asks the Thessalonians to pray for the rapid spread of the Gospel. Not just the spread of the Gospel, but the “rapid spread”. The same prayer can be requested for us today.

 

Consider Jalen Watts-Jackson for instance. He was injured during that final play last Saturday. He couldn’t even celebrate he was in so much pain. In fact, he both dislocated and broke his hip requiring season ending surgery the next day. His platform is sports and here is what he posted on Instagram following his surgery:

 

 

 

Your platform may not allow you to spread the Gospel nationally, but there are individuals that know you and will listen to you because of who you are; the kind of person you are; how you handle adversity; how you live your life; how you treat others.

 

The question then becomes, how will you handle your platform? Will you pray for the rapid spread of the Gospel and act when opportunity knocks?

 

 

 

 

The choice is yours.