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Living with a Leader’s Mistakes
A recent article in The Tennessean about the Tennessee Titans’ quarterback said that “Titans must live with Marcus Mariota's mistakes” after a game in which he threw two interceptions and lost a fumble – to go along with the three other turnovers he had in the first two games.
The author used retired quarterback Brent Favre as an example. In spite of throwing 336 interceptions and committing 166 fumbles (losing 73 of them) during his career, he also compiled 71,838 passing yards and completed 508 touchdown passes along the way to winning three MVP awards, 11 Pro Bowls, and a Super Bowl ring. Almost anyone would be willing to live with those mistakes in exchange for those accomplishments.
Yet imagine a quarterback with Favre’s accomplishments who also made no mistakes: not a single interception or fumble, no overthrown or underthrown passes, etc. Impossible you say? Maybe for a normal man, but not for Jesus. While he never played football, he did live a perfect life.
The Bible tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), but it also tells us that Jesus is the one exception. He was “tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus lived a life of perfection. Can you live with a leader like Him?
As Christians we do not have to live with our leader’s mistakes, because He did/does not make any. When Jesus said to “learn from Me” (Matt. 11:29), we can do so in every way. We can do as Paul and imitate Him in all things (1 Corinthians 11:1). He serves as our perfect example to follow each step of the way (1 Peter 2:21).
Jesus demonstrated true service when He washed the disciples’ feet and said, “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.” (John 13:15). When it comes to living a humble life and considering the needs of others, Paul wrote, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,” and then explained how Jesus is the perfect example of it (Phil. 2:5).
Instead of living with Jesus’ mistakes, we can learn from His mastery of all things. We will never find that in a quarterback, but we have it in our Savior and can confidently follow His lead.
