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The sports world waited in anticipation for the NBA’s top individual award to be announced. The Most Valuable Player award, as most expected, went to Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook, who had recently completed a record-smashing season.

For Thunder fans like me, the award going to Westbrook was truly exhilarating and validating. Even though we did not play a minute on the court, we felt Westbrook and the team were representing us.

I am personally a huge fan of basketball and Westbrook has been my favorite player since practically day one he came to the Thunder. I also admire his family—his parents and wife—and many aspects about him, so this moment was especially sweet for me.

One of life’s great blessings is that God puts “MVPs” around us. Who is the MVP in your family? Perhaps it’s your mother, grandfather or your spouse.

Who is the MVP in your church family? Perhaps it’s the pastor, a Sunday School teacher or the janitor.

God can use any person of any gifting to be a valuable player in life and in the Church. If you stop to think of some of the people in the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11, they were unlikely MVPs. Think about Rahab the Harlot, or Gideon, who called himself the “least of his tribe.” These were people who God plucked from obscurity and used for His glory. Now their names are forever enshrined in the Bible.

These and others are, in one sense, an “MVP” of life and the story of God’s people, as well. The Bible says, “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Heb. 13:7).

As we rejoice in Westbrook’s great accomplishment, ponder others around you we can also celebrate, to God’s glory. And above all, ponder the God-man Himself, the sinless Son of God who died for our sins, the Lord Jesus Christ. For He alone is worthy of our heart’s praise.