Joshua McKenzie - Football

I was…

An enemy of God.

I was blessed to have grown up as a pastors kid in a godly home. Jesus was talked about daily in our home. We prayed and read The Bible as a family almost every night. I just assumed I was a christian growing up because I could answer all the questions in Sunday school. I was nice to people most of the time, but I was only nice because I wanted to be liked by others. I soon realized that even though I called myself a christian my actions still looked different than my dad’s and other godly men I looked up to. I soon began to realize I was deeply sinful.

But Christ…

Opened my heart to the gospel.

One night when I was 8 years old I walked into my dads study and started asking questions about what it meant to be a christian. My dad shared with me that God is perfect and holy and that man is sinful, because of this we are separated from God. So the only thing that can bridge the gap between man and God is Jesus’ death on the cross. Jesus loved us so much that He came to earth, lived a perfect life and became the payment for our sins on the cross. My dad had shared the gospel with me many times before, but that night God opened my heart to understand what Jesus did for me on the cross. That night I confessed my sin to God and asked him to become the Lord of my life.

And now…

He empowers me to live for His glory alone.

My life sense I accepted Christ in no way has been easy, but it has been fulfilling. Soon after Christ came into my life I saw a change in my motives. I no longer did things to be liked but I did things to glorify God. Christ changed every aspect of my life. He changed everything from how I treat my parents to changing my purpose for playing sports. My motivation for everything I do comes from Christ’s love for me. 1 Corinthians 16:14 says, “Let all that you do be done in love.” Christ’s love for me allows me to live out this verse. By His grace I seek to let all that I do be done in love.

Life Verse

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

-1 Corinthians 10:31

Challenge to Other Athletes/Coaches

My challenge to other athletes: sit at the foot of the cross daily.

One of my favorite quotes is, “Lest I forget Gethsemane, Lest I forget Thine agony, Lest I forget Thy love for me, Lead me to Calvary.” - Jennie E. Hussey

When we dwell on what was accomplished for us at the cross we are reminded of the love God has for us. This allows us to live, love, and compete from a place of complete freedom and gratitude.