By Mallory Mattingly
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has focused on one Bible verse this offseason.
“Off-season vibes got me reflecting heavily on 1 Peter 4:19,” the wide receiver wrote in a post on Facebook.
Related: Ohio State WR Says Peace Only Comes Through Jesus
The verse reads, “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”
“Even when the lights are off, the playbook’s quiet, and the body’s recovering from the battle…if the trial pleases the Lord, keep doing right. Keep grinding in obedience. Keep trusting the One who formed you,” the athlete explained. “He’s faithful. He won’t fail. Not yesterday, not today, not when training camp hits. Jesus is King and Lord over every season on or off the field. Committing it all to Him.”
Sharing his faith and committing his career to Christ isn’t anything new for Egbuka.
“To every young dreamer reading this, God’s not done dreaming about your life. He’s the One who gives the vision and the provision. The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me…(Psalm 138:8),” he wrote on Facebook last month. “Go become that doctor, that artist, that engineer, that preacher, that world-changer, whatever fire He put in you. Just don’t do it without Him. Stay anchored in Scripture, pray without ceasing, and let the Holy Spirit lead every step. You’re not just becoming something, you’re becoming His. Keep shining for Jesus!”
In his first NFL game with the Buccaneers, the wide receiver secured 67 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Even with the incredible stats, though, Egbuka doesn’t place his identity in football but in God.
“At the end of the day, my value, I don’t place it in sports at all,” Egbuka said in the locker room after the game. “Whether I had two touchdowns or I’ve never scored in the NFL before, that’s not really what I hang my hat on at the end of the day…All glory to God.”
Before the NFL, Egbuka led Ohio State with 81 passes for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns. The wide receiver was the “19th overall selection in April’s NFL Draft. Egbuka is the Buckeyes’ all-time leader in career receptions (205) and receiving yards (2,868). He also helped the storied program win its ninth national championship last season, in a game that was played in the same stadium as his NFL regular-season debut,” according to Sports Spectrum.
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Focusing on his relationship with God will certainly pay off when Egbuka gets back on the field next season.
Read Next: Tampa Bay WR Credits New Record to This: ‘Thank You, Lord’
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