Video of the Day: Scene from the 2008 film “The Express: The Ernie Davis Story”
Bible Verse of the Day:
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery, Galatians 5:1.
Biblical Connection:
Ernie Davis became the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy. However, the Express focuses on the relationship between Ernie Davis and Ben Schwartzwalder, his football coach at Syracuse University from 1958-1962. While the United States will celebrate Martin Luther King Day tomorrow for his work fighting for Civil Rights, athletes like Ernie Davis became one of the first to break color barrier in football. The attached final scene points to what Ernie Davis played football for: to share his God given talents and to make it easier for black football athletes to play the game that he loved.
Just as Ernie Davis fought for future African American athletes who wanted to play college football, the apostle Paul wanted to see Christians live in freedom from a spiritual yoke of slavery. A religious sect known as the Judaizers infiltrated the Galatian Church. These Jewish Christians sought to alter the teachings of Christ. The Judaizers disregarded Moses’ words in Deuteronomy 4:2, forcing non-Jewish Christians to become circumcised. The Judaizers sought to make Christianity more Jewish by adding rigid practices of Judaism. This is the yoke of slavery that the apostle Paul addresses in today’s Bible verse.
Closing Song:
When you do fail in life, don’t beat yourself up. Rather, lean on the promises of the Bible which will lead you to freedom in Christ, Lamentations 3:21-23.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 