So my husband and step daughter loves basketball. They literally watch it every day all day during basketball season. She has played basketball for about three years and her game is really improving. Because of my family’s love for basketball, I make it a priority to attend her basketball games as much as I can. Now starting out I didn’t know much more about basketball than the bare bone basics. As I attended more and more games, I began to notice the different types of players and teams. I noticed that some teams were fast and could ball. They would move quickly, attack the ball, and do all the things that wowed the crowd. These girls were putting in the work. The thing that amazed me the most was the teams that were not as fast or athletic, had mastered the fundamentals. When they had to go to the foul line they made all their free throws. When they did get the ball they could make a two-point or a three-point shot without being fancy. What was eye opening for me was the teams that were fundamentally sound, most of the times would defeat the teams that were very athletic and had fancy foot work. I quickly learned that the game of basketball wasn’t about being fancy or even being the pure athlete, but it was all about knowing the fundamentals of the game.

As I reflected on the game of basketball, the Lord quickly showed me how basketball and our walk with Christ have similarities. As a new believer we are taught that the fundamentals of Christianity are prayer, scripture and loving your neighbor. Along the way, the culture teaches us the fancy footwork of Christianity like when to stand up, when to shout, and the words that every Christian should say. Most of the things that the culture teaches us may not be biblical , however, it is the things that we do to “wow” people and let them know that we can speak the Christian speak. However, if we really go back to the basics of what we were taught at the beginning of our Christian journey, we will find that all God wants from us is the fundamental things like prayer, reading the scripture, loving your neighbor, helping those in need and walking in obedience. Those fundamentals and basic principles are what help us to “win” in our walk with Christ.

So just like basketball, return back to the fundamentals of being a Christian. Let’s love our neighbors. Let’s pray day and night and keep God on our mind. Lets read God’s instructional manual, the bible, to understand his plans for our lives. Let’s remember the why Jesus die on the cross and live as if we are a follower of him. If we never tell anyone that we are a Christian, they can see it by the life we live. Let us remember and live by all the basic fundamentals of being a Christian.

Going back to the fundamentals,

Felicia Smith