Sports Analogy
Have you ever played for a team where you knew you were going to lose? You can try to just have fun but for most of us it is never fun to lose. It is hard to be motivated to practice hard when you already know the outcome. I played high school football and basketball we had good teams and therefore our outlook was positive which motivated us to work hard in practice.
The sport Christians play is called Kingdom Advance, it's goal is to establish Christ victory throughout the earth. Since we know the outcome then why are we often not prepared or in position to see this forth?
Most sport teams require tryouts before you are picked to be on the team. It is such a disappointment to work hard and not make it, yet such a delight to be chosen. I experienced the frustration of my son not being picked this last year for his basketball team though he was expected too without a doubt. I wanted to go give the coach a piece of my mind.
We have been chosen to be on God's team not by anything we have done or not done but simply because of His grace. 1 Peter 1:2 says we have been chosen long before we were born, and now His Spirit has made us holy, enabling us to obey for we have been cleansed by His blood. So let us stop worrying about our shortcomings, comparing ourselves with others, doubting our abilities, and just be filled with His Spirit and walk in His power to overcome.
It was rewarding to play for a team with high expectancy, for when things got tough we just motivated each other through, for we were determined to be champions. It is amazing that all we won was a simple trophy, no cash, no great recognition, all that we really gained was pride. It couldn't even last long, for with each season, a new champion is made and the previous one is quickly forgotten.
1 Peter 1:3-4 says we should live with great expectation for we have a priceless inheritance in heaven, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.
We can begin to taste our eternal victory now, for God's will is "His kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Therefore let's put off the victim mentality and enjoy the victorious life we have in His name. Every battle we face we have already won all we have to do is keep believing it.
Having athletes with great abilities is important but endurance is the most needed trait in being a winner. Endurance is not a natural born skill it is developed through drills, being pushed past your limit. One does not know their capabilities until they are put in a position where they have to extend themselves further than they have ever before.
Have you ever tried to convince someone they have no chance to win yet their stubborn pride won't listen? The enemy has lost but he is so deceived he cannot believe it, so he is not going down without a fight. Revelations chapter 3-4 tell us the reward for those who overcome. The key attribute to overcoming is endurance.
In 1 Peter 1:6-7 God our great heavenly coach reveals why He sets us up with life lessons where our faith is tested so we can develop endurance and be able to withstand the enemies constant opposition. Good coaches are those who prepare their team with drills that encamp every possible angle that their team may face. When one grasps this understanding they can truly confess how good God is in the midst of their trial.
James 1:2 -4 "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing".
Athletes who have worked so hard and taste victory are so overjoyed with emotion. It's one of the most beautiful pictures in life to see people victorious. I have often wept with my favorite teams when they have won, so proud of their effort and awarded achievement. In the moment it is as if I have participated in their victory, that is why it is said the 12th man (the fan), is the key to victory on the football field. Yet, I know it cannot compare with the players who sweat hard and devote hours to training in preparation to reach their ultimate goal.
1 Peter 1:7 "when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."
The bible says our present trials cannot compare with the Glory ahead. Let's keep our eyes on the prize for all our sacrifices will be rewarded eternally. We are part of what the Old Testament prophets could only dream of, we are God's Dream Team. We cannot lose, we have an unfair advantage, we are in Christ who paid the ultimate price, who bought our victory, all He needs of us is to trust and obey.
The sport Christians play is called Kingdom Advance, it's goal is to establish Christ victory throughout the earth. Since we know the outcome then why are we often not prepared or in position to see this forth?
Most sport teams require tryouts before you are picked to be on the team. It is such a disappointment to work hard and not make it, yet such a delight to be chosen. I experienced the frustration of my son not being picked this last year for his basketball team though he was expected too without a doubt. I wanted to go give the coach a piece of my mind.
We have been chosen to be on God's team not by anything we have done or not done but simply because of His grace. 1 Peter 1:2 says we have been chosen long before we were born, and now His Spirit has made us holy, enabling us to obey for we have been cleansed by His blood. So let us stop worrying about our shortcomings, comparing ourselves with others, doubting our abilities, and just be filled with His Spirit and walk in His power to overcome.
It was rewarding to play for a team with high expectancy, for when things got tough we just motivated each other through, for we were determined to be champions. It is amazing that all we won was a simple trophy, no cash, no great recognition, all that we really gained was pride. It couldn't even last long, for with each season, a new champion is made and the previous one is quickly forgotten.
1 Peter 1:3-4 says we should live with great expectation for we have a priceless inheritance in heaven, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.
We can begin to taste our eternal victory now, for God's will is "His kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Therefore let's put off the victim mentality and enjoy the victorious life we have in His name. Every battle we face we have already won all we have to do is keep believing it.
Having athletes with great abilities is important but endurance is the most needed trait in being a winner. Endurance is not a natural born skill it is developed through drills, being pushed past your limit. One does not know their capabilities until they are put in a position where they have to extend themselves further than they have ever before.
Have you ever tried to convince someone they have no chance to win yet their stubborn pride won't listen? The enemy has lost but he is so deceived he cannot believe it, so he is not going down without a fight. Revelations chapter 3-4 tell us the reward for those who overcome. The key attribute to overcoming is endurance.
In 1 Peter 1:6-7 God our great heavenly coach reveals why He sets us up with life lessons where our faith is tested so we can develop endurance and be able to withstand the enemies constant opposition. Good coaches are those who prepare their team with drills that encamp every possible angle that their team may face. When one grasps this understanding they can truly confess how good God is in the midst of their trial.
James 1:2 -4 "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing".
Athletes who have worked so hard and taste victory are so overjoyed with emotion. It's one of the most beautiful pictures in life to see people victorious. I have often wept with my favorite teams when they have won, so proud of their effort and awarded achievement. In the moment it is as if I have participated in their victory, that is why it is said the 12th man (the fan), is the key to victory on the football field. Yet, I know it cannot compare with the players who sweat hard and devote hours to training in preparation to reach their ultimate goal.
1 Peter 1:7 "when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."
The bible says our present trials cannot compare with the Glory ahead. Let's keep our eyes on the prize for all our sacrifices will be rewarded eternally. We are part of what the Old Testament prophets could only dream of, we are God's Dream Team. We cannot lose, we have an unfair advantage, we are in Christ who paid the ultimate price, who bought our victory, all He needs of us is to trust and obey.
