“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:  and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” – Acts 1:8

    It’s easy to cheer when you’re in the “home team’s stands”.  The real measure of your devotion comes when you’re in the enemies’ camp.

    Several months ago, the high school basketball team from the town in which we attend church, made it to the state finals.  We excitedly made the two and a half hour trip to the State Capital to watch the championship game. 

    When we arrived, we didn’t know which side of the stadium we were supposed to sit on to support our team.

    It was shortly after tip-off that we realized we were surrounded by fans from the opposing team.  On each side of us, in front of us and behind us were supporters of the team we were playing in that game.

    We were surrounded by the enemy!

    Which became very obvious to us when the cheering started. 

    Now, I gotta be honest with you.  It was much, much easier to cheer our team back home when we were in our own gym.  And, I imagine that it would have been much easier to cheer our team from the other side of this particular arena, surrounded by others just like us.

    But, stand and cheer our team in the midst of the enemy? 

    Stand and cheer our team when everyone around us resented us showing our support? 

    Stand and cheer when looks of disbelief and disdain were met with every attempt to applaud our team?

    That’s a different story.  It takes a much deeper level of devotion to unashamedly express your affiliation when surrounded by those just as adamant about expressing theirs.

    And, yet, for a little over an hour, that’s exactly what we did.

    We rose to our feet and  applauded every shot our team made,  cheered every stellar defensive play and questioned any bad call that might not have gone our way. 

    We did it all with due respect to the other team’s fans and displayed good sportsmanship in the way we handled ourselves.  But, we made it clear whose side we were on.

    You know, it reminds me of church.  How easy it is to stand and cheer the Lord Jesus when you’re in the “home team’s stands” – inside our church, on our familiar pews, with other believers all worshipping around us.

    It’s a different story outside those walls, isn’t it?  When we go to our homes and workplaces, our schools and our businesses, our recreation spots and our entertainment places, then comes the real measure of our devotion to Christ.

    When we stand in this world that is opposed to the Lord – the enemies’ camp – will we unashamedly express our affiliation with Jesus?  Will we stand and cheer our Savior, even when we are surrounded by those who are on the other side?

    Oh, may we not be so intolerant that we are ungodly; may we not be so belligerent that we are disrespectful; may we not be so heavenly minded that we’re of no earthly good. But may we make it clear whose side we’re on.

    This week, when we leave our churches and step out into the world, may we well represent our Savior.

    In all we do, let us stand and cheer Jesus.