As Christians living in the USA, we hear truths so often that they can lose their luster and impact. We hear that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead. We hear that we are supposed to follow Jesus on His Great Commission to reach the lost and make disciples.
We hear these things, but often our lives aren’t transformed. As a result, many of us go through the motions—saying our prayers, reading the Bible or a devotional, and listening to Christian music every day. These are good and necessary practices, but despite our efforts, we often feel a lack of connection with God, and we don’t sense His presence in our lives.
We may find ourselves spiritually dry, wondering, “Why do I feel so low? Why is God not working in my life?” Consequently, we drift into a sea of endless apathy, settling for a bland, lukewarm existence that makes us feel like giving up.
If this resonates with you, know that there is hope. God can use the most unexpected things to awaken our hearts and renew our focus. For me, one of those moments came through an unexpected and unsought video that taught me a lesson I never imagined I would learn, and I know I’ll never forget.
An Unexpected Lesson
If you have a YouTube account, you’ll notice that every time you go to the page, YouTube will give you recommendations of videos you might like to see. Several months ago, YouTube recommended a video for me to watch. It was about Kobe Bryant and his love for the game of basketball. I’ve never searched for a Kobe Bryant video, so I was a little surprised it was recommended to me. Nevertheless, as a former athlete, I’ve always been drawn to sports stories. They often highlight discipline, perseverance, and dedication to excel at a given sport.
So, I clicked on the video expecting highlights of Kobe’s career, stories about his incredible talent, or heartfelt tributes from those who knew him best. What I didn’t expect was for God to use Kobe Bryant’s life and mentality toward basketball to resharpen my understanding of what it means to be a Christian and to follow Jesus.
To be clear, the video was not about Christianity. Kobe did not give a sermon or teach a Bible class at a church. He didn’t speak about Jesus, the Father, the Holy Spirit, or the Bible. While I hope Kobe had a personal relationship with Christ before his tragic death on January 26, 2020, and there is a little bit of evidence that he may have, that is not the focus here. Instead, this article is about the principles Kobe lived by and how they can inspire Christians to break free from the lethargic existence known as nominal faith. Kobe’s story reminded me that following Jesus requires intention, commitment, and a dramatic shift in perspective.
“Kobe’s story reminded me that following Jesus requires intention, commitment, and a dramatic shift in perspective.”
A Life Centered on Purpose
One of the most striking moments in the video was Kobe’s statement, “I had a purpose. I wanted to be one of the best basketball players to ever play, and anything else that was outside of that lane, I didn’t have time for.”
This statement is powerful and spectacular, and it resonates deeply with our calling as Christians. Scripture tells us that our purpose is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37) and to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). Others have articulated our purpose in eloquent ways, but at its core, it is straightforward: we are to live for Jesus. Anything outside the “lane” of following Him is a distraction that can lead to destruction.
For Kobe, he didn’t just say basketball was important to him. It was his life. Similarly, Jesus isn’t just a part of our lives; He is our life. He said that He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Therefore, every decision we make and every action we take should, in one way or another, reflect our commitment to Him.
“For Kobe, he didn’t just say basketball was important to him. It was his life.”
The Role of Failure and Grace
Kobe’s story includes moments of failure, but those moments didn’t define him. He recounted an experience from his childhood when he didn’t score a single point during an entire summer of basketball. He said, “I remember crying about it, being upset about it, and my father just gave me a hug and said, ‘Whether you scored zero or sixty, I’m gonna love you no matter what.’”
This moment was transformative for Kobe. He said that conversation gave him the confidence to fail, and to not worry about failing, because he knew his father’s love wasn’t dependent on his performance. In much the same way, God’s love for us is not based on our achievements or perfection. Romans 5:8 (NIV) reminds us, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
As Christians, we don’t have to be perfect. We strive for holiness, but we understand that we’ll never achieve perfection this side of eternity. What matters is that we continue to pursue Jesus with all our hearts, relying on His grace to pick us back up when we fall short.
“What matters is that we continue to pursue Jesus with all our hearts, relying on His grace to pick us back up when we fall short.”
A Life Fully Devoted to Growth
Kobe’s commitment to basketball extended beyond the court. He said,
“Basketball, for me, was the most important thing. So, everything I encountered—whether it was TV, shows, books I read, people I talked to, or walks in nature—everything was done to try to learn how to become a better basketball player. Everything. Everything. And so, when you have that point of view, then literally the world becomes your library to help you to become better at your craft.”
This mindset is a game-changer for Christians. Imagine if we approached our faith with the same level of dedication. We could say,
“Jesus, for me, is the most important thing. So, everything I encounter—whether it is a TV show, books I read, people I talk to, or walks in nature—is done to help me grow as a follower of Jesus and glorify Him. Everything. Everything. When we adopt this perspective, the world becomes our classroom, with God as our teacher. Every moment becomes an opportunity to learn, grow, and draw closer to Him.”
“Everything I encounter—whether it is a TV show, books I read, people I talk to, or walks in nature—is done to help me grow as a follower of Jesus and glorify Him.”
But there’s more. God is also sovereign. And because He is sovereign, He’s involved in every aspect of our lives. He is present in our joys and sorrows, our successes and failures. He is the Creator of all things, the source of all life, and the sustainer of all creation. When we acknowledge His presence in every moment, our faith becomes more than a Sunday morning service dedicated to Him. It becomes more than a prayer, a song, and even a daily devotional reading. It becomes the very fabric of our lives, the very air that we breathe so that we can live and function. It is the lens by which we see the world.
How often do we miss opportunities to experience God because we’re not focused on Him? How often do we fail to see His hand in our daily lives because we’re distracted by other things? By acknowledging that He is the center of everything, we will begin to see His glory everywhere and see Him working in our lives and in the lives of others. But it’s a process, not an overnight success.
Encouraging Others to Grow
As Kobe’s career progressed, he realized that his purpose wasn’t just about his own success. He believed in empowering others to reach their full potential. He said,
“The people we bring in, these obsessives that we bring in, we are challenging them to do the best job that they think they can do. That’s what I’m there for; for them to constantly look in the mirror and self-assess and challenge themselves. If we have a project and we think, ‘I can do that,’ that’s not the project we want. The projects that say, ‘I don’t know if I can animate that. I don’t know how to write that story. I don’t know how to do that’—those are the things we want because, through that curiosity, you’ll reach a level that you didn’t think was possible.”
This principle applies to our walk with Christ. As followers of Jesus, we are called to encourage others to grow in their faith. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV) exhorts us to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” and to “encourage one another.”
“As followers of Jesus, we are called to encourage others to grow in their faith.”
Many Christians hesitate to share their faith or take on challenges like evangelism because they feel inadequate. They don’t think they can do it. But that’s precisely what all Christians should be doing, not only because Jesus commands it, but because it will help us further down the road of spiritual growth and maturity than we ever thought possible. However, it’s not through curiosity that we achieve this; it’s through Christ. Our relationship with Him leads to intentional prayer, relational discipleship, and a firm reliance on the Holy Spirit, so that we can help others to step out in faith and accomplish more than they could ever imagine.
Living with Eternal Purpose
Kobe Bryant’s life offers powerful lessons for Christians. His dedication, discipline, and focus on purpose can inspire us to approach our faith with greater intentionality. Following Jesus requires more than going through the motions—it demands a wholehearted commitment to making Him the center of our lives.
Like Kobe, if we want to follow Christ in this fallen world, we have no choice but to embrace the mindset that everything we do—every conversation, every decision, every moment—is an act of discipleship and worship, which enables us, step by step, to become more like Christ. By doing so, we’ll not only grow in our faith but also inspire others to join us on the narrow journey that leads to everlasting life and joy.
