Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes follows Sermon on the Mount command
Christians don’t have to be fans of the Kansas City Chiefs, and they don’t have to like Patrick Mahomes as a player.
But take a moment and consider his words after the Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game, according to a post on X by Dr. Malachi - (Dr. Run).
“First off, I want to give all glory to God,” Mahomes said. “Without Him, none of this is possible and I truly mean that.”
It is not uncommon for football players to use the national spotlight as an opportunity to share their faith. Christians are called to be a light. And Mahomes followed the command of Matthew 5:16.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Mahomes’ response came after this question:
“How do you even describe this one, this opportunity at hand?”
And his response captured the essence of Christianity. Without God, none of this is possible. Not only did Mahomes get blessed with physical size and ability, but he also received the gift of being able to quickly process multiple things and understand how to react. That’s the blessing of intelligence.
Mahomes didn’t do anything to earn his athletic ability or mental acuity. When the Lord knit him together in the womb, this is what Mahomes received. And by sharing his faith — another gift from God (Ephesians 2:8) — Mahomes expressed his thankfulness for the blessing bestowed upon him.
A big deal doesn’t need to be made about Mahomes in this situation. He simply responded to the instructions given by Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount.
It’s interesting also to follow Mahomes words after giving glory to God. He said, “I’m just so proud of my teammates, and how they responded.”
So after praising God, he pointed to others who helped the team win. And then he gave credit to his opponent.
“That was a great football team,” Mahomes said.
In each instance, Mahomes applied Philippians 2:3-4.
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
And then, interestingly, Mahomes didn’t know where to go next. He said, “I’m just … I’m just … loss for words.”
But even then, he revealed a center of focus. In his job as an NFL quarterback, Mahomes received an opportunity to share his faith. He had a chance to put others above himself. He did both, and then his mind emptied for a moment.
In the world of the NFL, which can produce rough characters, those who consistently use foul language, take the Lord’s name in vain, or boast of their accomplishments, it’s refreshing to see one of the game’s best-ever players take a different road.
