A SUPER BOWL SUPERSTITION?

February 8, 2006

Was Ben Roethlisberger helped out by a good-luck beard?

THINK ABOUT IT

ROETHLISBERGER GETS SHAVE FROM LETTERMAN

NEW YORK (AP) - Ben Roethlisberger was happy to get rid of his good-luck beard.

The Pittsburgh quarterback got a shave Monday night from David Letterman while appearing on the Late Show, finally ridding himself of the scraggly light brown facial hair he's been growing since the Steelers lost to Cincinnati in October.

Host David Letterman (left) shaves Steelers' QB Ben Roethlisberger on the set of The Late Show with David Letterman. (AP Photo/CBS, J.P. Filo / Associated Press)

"I was so mad that we lost the game," Roethlisberger told Letterman. "I kind of went into a depression and didn't shave and we ended up winning the next game. And I am kind of superstitious — just a little bit to people who know me — but we won that game and I said I am just going to keep it going until we lose and we kept it going.

"I don't really like the beard you know. But we were winning so I had to keep it going."

Letterman's deadpan reply, "Really? Honestly, I think it looks like a million bucks."

Roethlisberger became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl, when the Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 on Sunday night. He passed for 123 yards and ran for a touchdown.

"The worst part about winning the AFC championship game was that I had to keep (the beard) for two more weeks," he said. "I didn't want to do that."

photo & story courtesy msnbc.com, 02/07/06

TAKE A LOOK

Colossians 2:8-10 - (NLT)

⁸Don't let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ. ⁹For in Christ the fullness of God lives in a human body, ¹⁰and you are complete through your union with Christ. He is the Lord over every ruler and authority in the universe.

WHAT DOES TODAY'S SCRIPTURE TEACH US ABOUT THE IDEA OF SUPERSTITION?

Stay calm Pittsburgh fans. I'm not condeming big Ben for hanging on to his "good-luck beard" through the playoffs. I have no idea what this Super Bowl Champ really believes about spiritual issues. But reading today's story got me thinking about how superstitious people are - including those of us who identify ourselves as followers of Christ.

How many of you wear your "lucky" socks for the game? Avoid the number "13" in everything? Listen to a certain "song" on specific days? Watch for "cracks" in the sidewalks? Check the astrology section just for "fun"? Forward cheesy emails to "at least 10 people" for fear that someone may miss out on God's "blessing" for the day?

Look at the study notes from Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE:

2:8,10 ...Paul is condeming teaching that credits humanity, not Christ, with being the answer to life's problems. That approach becomes a false religion. There are many man-made approaches to life's problems that totally disregard God. To resist heresy you must use your mind, keep your eyes on Christ, and study God's Word....When we know Christ, we don't need to seek God by means of other religions, cults, or unbiblical philosophies as the Colossians were doing. Christ alone holds the answers to the true meaning of life because He is life...we don't need anything in addition to what Christ has provided to be saved. We are complete in Him.

The next time you hear a follower of Christ telling someone "Good Luck", remind them that if things go well, they may as well say "Praise Chance"!

TALK ABOUT IT

Praise God that through Christ in you, all of the fullness of God lives in you! Thank Him that you have everything you need for salvation and living in a way that pleases Him. Confess any way in which you have (directly or indirectly) been practicing superstitious beliefs rather than Biblical ones. Ask Jesus to help you keep your focus on Him and Him alone.

TRY IT

Make a written list of any way you live out some superstitious belief. Ask Jesus to help you overcome it and rely on Him alone.
Whenever you hear people say "good luck", let it remind you, that in Christ, you are privileged to have complete access to the Almighty God. You don't need luck.
Memorize today's scripture. It won't bring you good luck, but you will remember God's Truth!

ABOUT IT

DAILY DEVOS is brought to you by Youth for Christ. Youth for Christ works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.

Byron Emmert Daily Devos is published Monday through Friday. Archives can be found at YFC.ORG. Its purpose is to help you apply truths from God's Word every day.

Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been involved with Youth For Christ for 30 years. He's served as Campus Life Staff, as a writer, and in leadership for the DCLA Conferences. Byron is married to Linda and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, and a daughter in college. He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.